diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
index 7d48468fd6..3b448638e6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ from calibre.ptempfile import PersistentTemporaryFile, SpooledTemporaryFile
 from calibre.gui2.languages import LanguagesEdit as LE
 from calibre.db import SPOOL_SIZE
 
-OK_COLOR = 'rgba(0, 255, 0, 15%)'
-ERR_COLOR = 'rgba(255, 0, 0, 15%)'
+OK_COLOR = 'rgba(0, 255, 0, 12%)'
+ERR_COLOR = 'rgba(255, 0, 0, 12%)'
 
 def save_dialog(parent, title, msg, det_msg=''):
     d = QMessageBox(parent)