diff --git a/render/theme.c b/render/theme.c
index 8c348441..e61974e6 100644
--- a/render/theme.c
+++ b/render/theme.c
@@ -478,6 +478,13 @@ RrTheme* RrThemeNew(const RrInstance *inst, gchar *name)
                          "window.active.label.bg", theme->app_hilite_label,
                          TRUE))
         set_default_appearance(theme->app_hilite_label);
+    else if (theme->app_hilite_label->surface.grad == RR_SURFACE_PARENTREL) {
+        if (!read_appearance(db, inst,
+                             "window.active.title.bg",
+                             theme->app_hilite_label,
+                             FALSE))
+            set_default_appearance(theme->app_hilite_label);
+    }
     if (!read_appearance(db, inst,
                          "window.inactive.title.bg", theme->app_unhilite_bg,
                          FALSE))
@@ -486,6 +493,14 @@ RrTheme* RrThemeNew(const RrInstance *inst, gchar *name)
                          "window.inactive.label.bg", theme->app_unhilite_label,
                          TRUE))
         set_default_appearance(theme->app_unhilite_label);
+    else if (theme->app_unhilite_label->surface.grad == RR_SURFACE_PARENTREL) {
+        if (!read_appearance(db, inst,
+                             "window.inactive.title.bg",
+                             theme->app_unhilite_label,
+                             FALSE))
+            set_default_appearance(theme->app_unhilite_label);
+    }
+        
 
     /* read buttons textures */
     if (!read_appearance(db, inst,