diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 6040649b50..63abde25dd 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ gprefs.defaults['auto_add_check_for_duplicates'] = False
 gprefs.defaults['blocked_auto_formats'] = []
 gprefs.defaults['auto_add_auto_convert'] = True
 gprefs.defaults['ui_style'] = 'calibre' if iswindows or isosx else 'system'
+gprefs.defaults['tag_browser_old_look'] = False
 # }}}
 
 NONE = QVariant() #: Null value to return from the data function of item models
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index 7fcdebe32f..84b75dd663 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         r('ui_style', gprefs, restart_required=True, choices=
                 [(_('System default'), 'system'), (_('Calibre style'),
                     'calibre')])
+        r('tag_browser_old_look', gprefs, restart_required=True)
 
         r('cover_flow_queue_length', config, restart_required=True)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
index 6bcb964e2a..9621b20871 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
@@ -312,6 +312,18 @@ Manage Authors. You can use the values {author} and
        <string>Tag Browser</string>
       </attribute>
       <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_10">
+       <item row="3" column="2" colspan="3">
+        <widget class="MultiCompleteLineEdit" name="opt_categories_using_hierarchy">
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string>A comma-separated list of categories in which items containing
+periods are displayed in the tag browser trees. For example, if
+this box contains 'tags' then tags of the form 'Mystery.English'
+and 'Mystery.Thriller' will be displayed with English and Thriller
+both under 'Mystery'. If 'tags' is not in this box,
+then the tags will be displayed each on their own line.</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
        <item row="0" column="0" colspan="2">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_9">
          <property name="text">
@@ -354,6 +366,19 @@ up into subcategories. If the partition method is set to disable, this value is
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item row="5" column="0" colspan="5">
+        <spacer name="verticalSpacer_2">
+         <property name="orientation">
+          <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+          <size>
+           <width>690</width>
+           <height>252</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </spacer>
+       </item>
        <item row="1" column="2">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_8111">
          <property name="text">
@@ -396,27 +421,9 @@ a few top-level elements.</string>
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item row="4" column="0" colspan="5">
-        <spacer name="verticalSpacer_2">
-         <property name="orientation">
-          <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
-         </property>
-         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
-          <size>
-           <width>690</width>
-           <height>252</height>
-          </size>
-         </property>
-        </spacer>
-       </item>
-       <item row="3" column="2" colspan="3">
-        <widget class="MultiCompleteLineEdit" name="opt_categories_using_hierarchy">
-         <property name="toolTip">
-          <string>A comma-separated list of categories in which items containing
-periods are displayed in the tag browser trees. For example, if
-this box contains 'tags' then tags of the form 'Mystery.English'
-and 'Mystery.Thriller' will be displayed with English and Thriller
-both under 'Mystery'. If 'tags' is not in this box,
-then the tags will be displayed each on their own line.</string>
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_tag_browser_old_look">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Use &amp;alternating row colors in the Tag Browser</string>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py
index 9331194328..d405294b01 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ from calibre.utils.icu import sort_key
 
 class TagDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate): # {{{
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        QStyledItemDelegate.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.old_look = gprefs['tag_browser_old_look']
+
     def paint(self, painter, option, index):
         item = index.data(Qt.UserRole).toPyObject()
         QStyledItemDelegate.paint(self, painter, option, index)
@@ -46,7 +50,12 @@ class TagDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate): # {{{
             nr = r.adjusted(0, 0, 0, 0)
             nr.setBottom(r.bottom()-int(r.height()*(rating/5.0)))
             painter.setClipRect(nr)
-            painter.fillRect(r, widget.palette().window())
+            bg = option.palette.window()
+            if self.old_look:
+                bg = (option.palette.alternateBase() if
+                        option.features&option.Alternate else
+                        option.palette.base())
+            painter.fillRect(r, bg)
             style.proxy().drawPrimitive(style.PE_PanelItemViewItem, option,
                     painter, widget)
             painter.setOpacity(0.3)
@@ -108,13 +117,14 @@ class TagsView(QTreeView): # {{{
         self._model.user_categories_edited.connect(self.user_categories_edited,
                 type=Qt.QueuedConnection)
         self._model.drag_drop_finished.connect(self.drag_drop_finished)
-        self.setStyleSheet('''
+        stylish_tb = '''
                 QTreeView {
                     background-color: palette(window);
                     color: palette(window-text);
                     border: none;
                 }
-
+        '''
+        self.setStyleSheet('''
                 QTreeView::item {
                     border: 1px solid transparent;
                     padding-top:0.9ex;
@@ -126,7 +136,9 @@ class TagsView(QTreeView): # {{{
                     border: 1px solid #bfcde4;
                     border-radius: 6px;
                 }
-        ''')
+        ''' + ('' if gprefs['tag_browser_old_look'] else stylish_tb))
+        if gprefs['tag_browser_old_look']:
+            self.setAlternatingRowColors(True)
 
     @property
     def hidden_categories(self):