diff --git a/src/kits/interface/ColumnListView.cpp b/src/kits/interface/ColumnListView.cpp
index 2f31f02046..d0f5ce944b 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/ColumnListView.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/ColumnListView.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ static const unsigned char kUpSortArrow8x8Invert[] = {
 };
 
 static const float kTintedLineTint = 1.04;
+static const float kTintedLineTintDark = 0.90;
+
 
 static const float kMinTitleHeight = 16.0;
 static const float kMinRowHeight = 16.0;
@@ -3372,8 +3374,12 @@ OutlineView::RedrawColumn(BColumn* column, float leftEdge, bool isFirstColumn)
 				highColor = fMasterView->Color(B_COLOR_BACKGROUND);
 				lowColor = fMasterView->Color(B_COLOR_BACKGROUND);
 			}
-			if (tintedLine)
-				lowColor = tint_color(lowColor, kTintedLineTint);
+			if (tintedLine) {
+				if (lowColor.IsLight())
+					lowColor = tint_color(lowColor, kTintedLineTint);
+				else
+					lowColor = tint_color(lowColor, kTintedLineTintDark);
+			}
 
 
 #if DOUBLE_BUFFERED_COLUMN_RESIZE
@@ -3515,8 +3521,12 @@ OutlineView::Draw(BRect invalidBounds)
 					lowColor = fMasterView->Color(B_COLOR_NON_FOCUS_SELECTION);
 			} else
 				lowColor = fMasterView->Color(B_COLOR_BACKGROUND);
-			if (tintedLine)
-				lowColor = tint_color(lowColor, kTintedLineTint);
+			if (tintedLine) {
+				if (lowColor.IsLight())
+					lowColor = tint_color(lowColor, kTintedLineTint);
+				else
+					lowColor = tint_color(lowColor, kTintedLineTintDark);
+			}
 
 			for (int columnIndex = 0; columnIndex < numColumns; columnIndex++) {
 				BColumn* column = (BColumn*) fColumns->ItemAt(columnIndex);