diff --git a/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp b/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp
index b2dfc92c3c..3e3e0b874b 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp
@@ -444,21 +444,22 @@ BMenuItem::DrawContent()
 void
 BMenuItem::Draw()
 {
+	const rgb_color lowColor = fSuper->LowColor();
 	const rgb_color highColor = fSuper->HighColor();
-	rgb_color bgColor = fSuper->LowColor();
 
 	bool enabled = IsEnabled();
 	bool selected = IsSelected();
 	bool activated = selected && (enabled || Submenu() != NULL);
 
+	// set low color
 	if (activated) {
-		// fill in background
-		bgColor = ui_color(B_MENU_SELECTED_BACKGROUND_COLOR);
-		BRect rect = Frame();
-		be_control_look->DrawMenuItemBackground(fSuper, rect, rect,
-			bgColor, BControlLook::B_ACTIVATED);
+		fSuper->SetLowColor(ui_color(B_MENU_SELECTED_BACKGROUND_COLOR));
+		// fill in the background
+		BRect rect(Frame());
+		be_control_look->DrawMenuItemBackground(fSuper, rect, Frame(),
+			fSuper->LowColor(), BControlLook::B_ACTIVATED);
 	} else
-		bgColor = ui_color(B_MENU_BACKGROUND_COLOR);
+		fSuper->SetLowColor(ui_color(B_MENU_BACKGROUND_COLOR));
 
 	// set high color
 	if (activated && enabled)
@@ -466,6 +467,7 @@ BMenuItem::Draw()
 	else if (enabled)
 		fSuper->SetHighColor(ui_color(B_MENU_ITEM_TEXT_COLOR));
 	else {
+		rgb_color bgColor = fSuper->LowColor();
 		if (bgColor.red + bgColor.green + bgColor.blue > 128 * 3)
 			fSuper->SetHighColor(tint_color(bgColor, B_DISABLED_LABEL_TINT));
 		else
@@ -489,8 +491,9 @@ BMenuItem::Draw()
 			_DrawSubmenuSymbol();
 	}
 
+	// restore the parent menu's low color and high color
+	fSuper->SetLowColor(lowColor);
 	fSuper->SetHighColor(highColor);
-		// restore the high color of the parent menu
 }