diff --git a/modules/chat.lua b/modules/chat.lua
index e2a5476e..3ac26bd5 100644
--- a/modules/chat.lua
+++ b/modules/chat.lua
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
   pfUI.chat.left:SetPoint("BOTTOMLEFT", 5,5)
   pfUI.utils:UpdateMovable(pfUI.chat.left)
   pfUI.utils:CreateBackdrop(pfUI.chat.left, default_border, nil, true)
+  if pfUI_config.chat.global.custombg == "1" then
+    local r, g, b = strsplit(",", pfUI_config.chat.global.bgcolor)
+    pfUI.chat.left.backdrop:SetBackdropColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(pfUI_config.chat.global.bgtransp))
+  end
 
   pfUI.chat.left.panelTop = CreateFrame("Frame", "leftChatPanelTop", pfUI.chat.left)
   pfUI.chat.left.panelTop:ClearAllPoints()
@@ -161,6 +165,10 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
   pfUI.chat.right:SetPoint("BOTTOMRIGHT", -5,5)
   pfUI.utils:UpdateMovable(pfUI.chat.right)
   pfUI.utils:CreateBackdrop(pfUI.chat.right, default_border, nil, true)
+  if pfUI_config.chat.global.custombg == "1" then
+    local r, g, b = strsplit(",", pfUI_config.chat.global.bgcolor)
+    pfUI.chat.right.backdrop:SetBackdropColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(pfUI_config.chat.global.bgtransp))
+  end
 
   pfUI.chat.right.panelTop = CreateFrame("Frame", "rightChatPanelTop", pfUI.chat.right)
   pfUI.chat.right.panelTop:ClearAllPoints()
diff --git a/modules/config.lua b/modules/config.lua
index f6c85892..1f661ba4 100644
--- a/modules/config.lua
+++ b/modules/config.lua
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ function pfUI:LoadConfig()
   pfUI:UpdateConfig("chat",       "text",    "timecolor",        "dddddd")
   pfUI:UpdateConfig("chat",       "left",    "height",           "150")
   pfUI:UpdateConfig("chat",       "right",   "height",           "150")
+  pfUI:UpdateConfig("chat",       "global",  "custombg",         "0")
+  pfUI:UpdateConfig("chat",       "global",  "bgcolor",          ".2,.2,.2")
+  pfUI:UpdateConfig("chat",       "global",  "bgtransp",         ".5")
   pfUI:UpdateConfig("nameplates", nil,       "showcastbar",      "1")
   pfUI:UpdateConfig("nameplates", nil,       "showdebuffs",      "0")
   pfUI:UpdateConfig("nameplates", nil,       "clickthrough",     "0")
diff --git a/modules/gui.lua b/modules/gui.lua
index 2e8d4b9f..8ef123bd 100644
--- a/modules/gui.lua
+++ b/modules/gui.lua
@@ -709,6 +709,10 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("gui", function ()
   pfUI.gui:CreateConfig(pfUI.gui.chat, "Left chat height:", pfUI_config.chat.left, "height")
   pfUI.gui:CreateConfig(pfUI.gui.chat, "Right chat height:", pfUI_config.chat.right, "height")
 
+  pfUI.gui:CreateConfig(pfUI.gui.chat, "Use custom background:", pfUI_config.chat.global, "custombg", "checkbox")
+  pfUI.gui:CreateConfig(pfUI.gui.chat, "Background color:", pfUI_config.chat.global, "bgcolor")
+  pfUI.gui:CreateConfig(pfUI.gui.chat, "Background transparency:", pfUI_config.chat.global, "bgtransp")
+
   -- nameplates
   pfUI.gui.nameplates = pfUI.gui:CreateConfigTab("Nameplates")
   pfUI.gui:CreateConfig(pfUI.gui.nameplates, "Show castbars:", pfUI_config.nameplates, "showcastbar", "checkbox")