diff -u panel-plugin/systemload.c panel-plugin/systemload.c
--- panel-plugin/systemload.c	(working copy)
+++ panel-plugin/systemload.c	(working copy)
@@ -256,17 +256,16 @@
         gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(global->monitor[count]->ebox),
                           GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->box));
 
-        rc = gtk_widget_get_modifier_style(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status));
-        if (!rc) {
-            rc = gtk_rc_style_new();
-        }
-        if (rc) {
-            rc->color_flags[GTK_STATE_PRELIGHT] |= GTK_RC_BG;
-            rc->bg[GTK_STATE_PRELIGHT] =
-                global->monitor[count]->options.color;
-        }
-
-        gtk_widget_modify_style(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status), rc);
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status),
+                             GTK_STATE_PRELIGHT,
+                             &global->monitor[count]->options.color);
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status),
+                             GTK_STATE_SELECTED,
+                             &global->monitor[count]->options.color);
+        gtk_widget_modify_base(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status),
+                               GTK_STATE_SELECTED,
+                               &global->monitor[count]->options.color);
+                             
         gtk_widget_show(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status));
 
         gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(global->monitor[count]->box),
@@ -384,18 +383,15 @@
         gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(global->monitor[count]->label),
                            global->monitor[count]->options.label_text);
 
-        gtk_widget_hide(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status));
-        rc = gtk_widget_get_modifier_style(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status));
-        if (!rc) {
-            rc = gtk_rc_style_new();
-        }
-
-        if (rc) {
-            rc->color_flags[GTK_STATE_PRELIGHT] |= GTK_RC_BG;
-            rc->bg[GTK_STATE_PRELIGHT] = global->monitor[count]->options.color;
-        }
-
-        gtk_widget_modify_style(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status), rc);
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status),
+                             GTK_STATE_PRELIGHT,
+                             &global->monitor[count]->options.color);
+        gtk_widget_modify_bg(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status),
+                             GTK_STATE_SELECTED,
+                             &global->monitor[count]->options.color);
+        gtk_widget_modify_base(GTK_WIDGET(global->monitor[count]->status),
+                               GTK_STATE_SELECTED,
+                               &global->monitor[count]->options.color);
 
         if(global->monitor[count]->options.enabled)
         {