diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/image_popup.py b/src/calibre/gui2/image_popup.py
index b582c1c221..4acc4f26ab 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/image_popup.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/image_popup.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class ImageView(QDialog):
         self.geom_name = geom_name
 
         self.label = l = QLabel(self)
-        l.setBackgroundRole(QPalette.Base)
+        l.setBackgroundRole(QPalette.Text if QApplication.instance().is_dark_theme else QPalette.Base)
         l.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Ignored, QSizePolicy.Ignored)
         l.setScaledContents(True)