diff --git a/src/osx/cocoa/toolbar.mm b/src/osx/cocoa/toolbar.mm
index 6fbbd937b2..b37e841a6f 100644
--- a/src/osx/cocoa/toolbar.mm
+++ b/src/osx/cocoa/toolbar.mm
@@ -1673,7 +1673,10 @@ void wxToolBar::OnPaint(wxPaintEvent& event)
         
         wxRect rect(0,0,w,h);
         
-        dc.GradientFillLinear( rect , wxColour( 0xCC,0xCC,0xCC ), wxColour( 0xA8,0xA8,0xA8 ) , wxSOUTH );
+        //  TODO determine whether to use flat appearance in earlier system
+        if ( !wxPlatformInfo::Get().CheckOSVersion(10, 14 ) )
+            dc.GradientFillLinear( rect , wxColour( 0xCC,0xCC,0xCC ), wxColour( 0xA8,0xA8,0xA8 ) , wxSOUTH );
+        
         dc.SetPen( wxPen( wxColour( 0x51,0x51,0x51 ) ) );
         if ( HasFlag(wxTB_LEFT) )
             dc.DrawLine(w-1, 0, w-1, h);