diff --git a/src/msw/listctrl.cpp b/src/msw/listctrl.cpp
index 66b7a509b1..afc8bb65ed 100644
--- a/src/msw/listctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/listctrl.cpp
@@ -174,8 +174,7 @@ bool wxListCtrl::DoCreateControl(int x, int y, int w, int h)
     }
 #endif // ListView_SetExtendedListViewStyle
 
-    wxSystemSettings settings;
-    SetBackgroundColour(settings.GetSystemColour(wxSYS_COLOUR_WINDOW));
+    SetBackgroundColour(wxSystemSettings::GetSystemColour(wxSYS_COLOUR_WINDOW));
     SetForegroundColour(GetParent()->GetForegroundColour());
 
     SubclassWin(m_hWnd);
diff --git a/src/msw/treectrl.cpp b/src/msw/treectrl.cpp
index d9affa465f..ff98a5db03 100644
--- a/src/msw/treectrl.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/treectrl.cpp
@@ -212,9 +212,9 @@ bool wxTreeCtrl::Create(wxWindow *parent,
     if ( !MSWCreateControl(WC_TREEVIEW, wstyle) )
         return FALSE;
 
-    // the treectrl with any other background looks ugly because the items
-    // background is white anyhow
-    SetBackgroundColour(*wxWHITE);
+    SetBackgroundColour(wxSystemSettings::GetSystemColour(wxSYS_COLOUR_WINDOW));
+    SetForegroundColour(wxWindow::GetParent()->GetForegroundColour());
+
 
     // VZ: this is some experimental code which may be used to get the
     //     TVS_CHECKBOXES style functionality for comctl32.dll < 4.71.