diff --git a/include/wx/html/htmlcell.h b/include/wx/html/htmlcell.h
index 0499f24f62..4bc9299934 100644
--- a/include/wx/html/htmlcell.h
+++ b/include/wx/html/htmlcell.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ enum wxHtmlSelectionState
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_HTML wxHtmlRenderingState
 {
 public:
-    wxHtmlRenderingState() : m_selState(wxHTML_SEL_OUT) {}
+    wxHtmlRenderingState() : m_selState(wxHTML_SEL_OUT) { m_bgMode = wxSOLID; }
 
     void SetSelectionState(wxHtmlSelectionState s) { m_selState = s; }
     wxHtmlSelectionState GetSelectionState() const { return m_selState; }