diff --git a/src/generic/headerctrlg.cpp b/src/generic/headerctrlg.cpp
index 0254cfa8d6..ce150b8430 100644
--- a/src/generic/headerctrlg.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/headerctrlg.cpp
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ void wxHeaderCtrl::OnPaint(wxPaintEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 #endif
 
     wxAutoBufferedPaintDC dc(this);
+    dc.Clear();
 
     // account for the horizontal scrollbar offset in the parent window
     dc.SetDeviceOrigin(m_scrollOffset, 0);