diff --git a/components/compositing/compositor.rs b/components/compositing/compositor.rs
index f09eb6b51a8..e9e0f6bf8d2 100644
--- a/components/compositing/compositor.rs
+++ b/components/compositing/compositor.rs
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ impl<Window: WindowMethods> IOCompositor<Window> {
             epoch: Epoch(0),
             id: LayerId::null(),
             rect: Rect::zero(),
-            background_color: color::black(),
+            background_color: color::transparent_black(),
             scroll_policy: ScrollPolicy::Scrollable,
         };
 
diff --git a/components/gfx/paint_context.rs b/components/gfx/paint_context.rs
index 7a304bfb4cb..77b0effb037 100644
--- a/components/gfx/paint_context.rs
+++ b/components/gfx/paint_context.rs
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ impl<'a> PaintContext<'a> {
     }
 
     pub fn clear(&self) {
-        let pattern = ColorPattern::new(color::black());
+        let pattern = ColorPattern::new(color::transparent_black());
         let rect = Rect(Point2D(self.page_rect.origin.x as AzFloat,
                                 self.page_rect.origin.y as AzFloat),
                         Size2D(self.screen_rect.size.width as AzFloat,
diff --git a/components/layout/layout_task.rs b/components/layout/layout_task.rs
index e2eea711de7..9a19a84c6e1 100644
--- a/components/layout/layout_task.rs
+++ b/components/layout/layout_task.rs
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ impl LayoutTask {
                                          .to_gfx_color()
                     };
 
-                    let black = color::black();
+                    let black = color::transparent_black();
                     // TODO: Use equality operators when we sync with rust-azure.
                     if element_bg_color.r != black.r || element_bg_color.g != black.g ||
                        element_bg_color.b != black.b || element_bg_color.a != black.a {