diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 5744b6cd..b25de998 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -561,6 +561,14 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(
 )
 AC_SUBST(DEFAULT_APPS)
 
+AC_ARG_WITH(
+  overlay,
+  [ --with-overlay=path      location overlay file (PREFIX/share/fluxbox/overlay)],
+  DEFAULT_OVERLAY=$with_overlay,
+  DEFAULT_OVERLAY=\$\(prefix\)/share/fluxbox/overlay
+)
+AC_SUBST(DEFAULT_OVERLAY)
+
 AC_ARG_WITH(
   init,
   [  --with-init=path        location init file (PREFIX/share/fluxbox/init)],
diff --git a/data/Makefile.am b/data/Makefile.am
index 4a0bd10e..4dde80c4 100644
--- a/data/Makefile.am
+++ b/data/Makefile.am
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ DEFAULT_MENU = @DEFAULT_MENU@
 DEFAULT_STYLE = @DEFAULT_STYLE@
 DEFAULT_KEYS = @DEFAULT_KEYS@
 DEFAULT_APPS = @DEFAULT_APPS@
+DEFAULT_OVERLAY = @DEFAULT_OVERLAY@
 DEFAULT_INIT = @DEFAULT_INIT@
 
 SUBDIRS= 		styles
 CLEANFILES= 		menu menu.in menu.pre menu.bak init apps
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES= 	Makefile.in
-pkgdata_DATA= 		keys menu init apps
-EXTRA_DIST= 		keys init.in apps.in
+pkgdata_DATA= 		keys menu init apps overlay
+EXTRA_DIST= 		keys init.in apps.in overlay
 all-local: 		menu init apps
 install-pkgdataDATA:
 	@echo "Installing menu file in $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_MENU)"
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ install-pkgdataDATA:
 	@echo "Installing apps file in $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_APPS)"
 	$(mkinstalldirs) $(DESTDIR)$(dir $(DEFAULT_APPS))
 	$(INSTALL_DATA) $(srcdir)/apps $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_APPS)
+	@echo "Installing overlay file in $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_OVERLAY)"
+	$(mkinstalldirs) $(DESTDIR)$(dir $(DEFAULT_OVERLAY))
+	$(INSTALL_DATA) $(srcdir)/overlay $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_OVERLAY)
 	@echo "Installing init file in $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_INIT)"
 	$(mkinstalldirs) $(DESTDIR)$(dir $(DEFAULT_INIT))
 	$(INSTALL_DATA) init $(DESTDIR)$(DEFAULT_INIT)
diff --git a/data/overlay b/data/overlay
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb4e91c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/overlay
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+! The following line will prevent styles from setting the background.
+! background: none
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 8fe65a6b..0fc5a7aa 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ DEFAULT_MENU=@DEFAULT_MENU@
 DEFAULT_STYLE=@DEFAULT_STYLE@
 DEFAULT_KEYSFILE=@DEFAULT_KEYS@
 DEFAULT_APPSFILE=@DEFAULT_APPS@
+DEFAULT_OVERLAY=@DEFAULT_OVERLAY@
 DEFAULT_INITFILE=@DEFAULT_INIT@
 PROGRAM_PREFIX=@program_prefix@
 PROGRAM_SUFFIX=@program_suffix@
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ defaults.hh: Makefile
 		echo '#define DEFAULTSTYLE "$(DEFAULT_STYLE)"'; \
 		echo '#define DEFAULTKEYSFILE "$(DEFAULT_KEYSFILE)"'; \
 		echo '#define DEFAULT_APPSFILE "$(DEFAULT_APPSFILE)"'; \
+		echo '#define DEFAULT_OVERLAY "$(DEFAULT_OVERLAY)"'; \
 		echo '#define DEFAULT_INITFILE "$(DEFAULT_INITFILE)"'; \
 		echo '#define PROGRAM_PREFIX "$(PROGRAM_PREFIX:NONE=)"'; \
 		echo '#define PROGRAM_SUFFIX "$(PROGRAM_SUFFIX:NONE=)"'; \
diff --git a/src/fluxbox.cc b/src/fluxbox.cc
index 10454307..8fcc1949 100644
--- a/src/fluxbox.cc
+++ b/src/fluxbox.cc
@@ -524,14 +524,16 @@ void Fluxbox::ungrab() {
 void Fluxbox::setupConfigFiles() {
 
     bool create_init = false, create_keys = false, create_menu = false,
-         create_apps = false;
+         create_apps = false, create_overlay = false;
 
     string dirname = getenv("HOME") + string("/.") + m_RC_PATH + "/";
-    string init_file, keys_file, menu_file, slitlist_file, apps_file;
+    string init_file, keys_file, menu_file, slitlist_file, apps_file,
+           overlay_file;
     init_file = dirname + m_RC_INIT_FILE;
     keys_file = dirname + "keys";
     menu_file = dirname + "menu";
     apps_file = dirname + "apps";
+    overlay_file = dirname + "overlay";
 
     struct stat buf;
 
@@ -547,6 +549,8 @@ void Fluxbox::setupConfigFiles() {
             create_menu = true;
         if (stat(apps_file.c_str(), &buf))
             create_apps = true;
+        if (stat(overlay_file.c_str(), &buf))
+            create_overlay = true;
 
     } else {
 #ifdef DEBUG
@@ -580,6 +584,10 @@ void Fluxbox::setupConfigFiles() {
     if (create_apps)
         FbTk::FileUtil::copyFile(DEFAULT_APPSFILE, apps_file.c_str());
 
+    // copy overlay file
+    if (create_overlay)
+        FbTk::FileUtil::copyFile(DEFAULT_OVERLAY, overlay_file.c_str());
+
     // copy init file
     if (create_init)
         FbTk::FileUtil::copyFile(DEFAULT_INITFILE, init_file.c_str());
diff --git a/util/startfluxbox.in b/util/startfluxbox.in
index ee376750..bf06ec9f 100755
--- a/util/startfluxbox.in
+++ b/util/startfluxbox.in
@@ -37,17 +37,14 @@ else
 #
 # Lines starting with a '#' are ignored.
 
-# You can set your favourite wallpaper here if you don't want
-# to do it from your style.
-#
-# fbsetbg -f $HOME/pictures/wallpaper.png
-#
 # This sets a black background
 
-@pkgbindir@/@pkgprefix@fbsetroot@pkgsuffix@ -solid black
+@pkgprefix@fbsetroot@pkgsuffix@ -solid black
 
-# This shows the fluxbox-splash-screen
-# @pkgprefix@fbsetbg@pkgsuffix@ -C @pkgdatadir@/splash.jpg
+# You can set your favourite wallpaper here. You will also need to uncomment the
+# line in $HOME/.@pkgprefix@fluxbox@pkgsuffix@/overlay or else your style will override it.
+#
+# @pkgprefix@fbsetbg@pkgsuffix@ -f $HOME/.@pkgprefix@fluxbox@pkgsuffix@/backgrounds/wallpaper.png
 
 # Other examples. Check man xset for details.
 #
@@ -60,9 +57,6 @@ else
 # Your own fonts-dir:
 # xset +fp "$HOME/.fonts"
 #
-# Your favourite mouse cursor:
-# xsetroot -cursor_name right_ptr
-#
 # Change your keymap:
 # xmodmap "$HOME/.Xmodmap"