--- versioning.ui/src/org/netbeans/modules/versioning/ui/diff/DiffSidebar.java	
+++ versioning.ui/src/org/netbeans/modules/versioning/ui/diff/DiffSidebar.java	
@@ -1297,7 +1297,13 @@ 
 
     private void updateColors (FontColorSettings fcs) {
         Color oldC = bgColor;
-        bgColor = getParent().getBackground();
+        AttributeSet as = fcs.getFontColors(FontColorNames.DEFAULT_COLORING);
+        Coloring coloring = as == null ? null : Coloring.fromAttributeSet(as);
+        Color newC = null;
+        if (coloring != null) {
+            newC = coloring.getBackColor();
+        }
+        bgColor = newC == null ? defaultBackground() : newC;
         if (!bgColor.equals(oldC)) {
             EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {