diff --git a/src/msw/statusbar.cpp b/src/msw/statusbar.cpp
index 1f3fbbb4d4..a6b42bac5a 100644
--- a/src/msw/statusbar.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/statusbar.cpp
@@ -135,8 +135,6 @@ bool wxStatusBar::Create(wxWindow *parent,
     // cache the DC instance used by DoUpdateStatusText:
     m_pDC = new wxClientDC(this);
 
-    SetBackgroundColour(wxSystemSettings::GetColour(wxSYS_COLOUR_MENUBAR));
-
     // we must refresh the frame size when the statusbar is created, because
     // its client area might change
     //