diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py
index 32110ede1f..644ed2676c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class TOCView(QTreeView):
 
                 QTreeView::item:hover {
                     background: qlineargradient(x1: 0, y1: 0, x2: 0, y2: 1, stop: 0 #e7effd, stop: 1 #cbdaf1);
+                    color: black;
                     border: 1px solid #bfcde4;
                     border-radius: 6px;
                 }