diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_message-list.scss b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_message-list.scss
index 6cdc04050..f07ac0e2a 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_message-list.scss
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_message-list.scss
@@ -144,10 +144,11 @@
       // icon size and color
       icon-size: $base_icon_size * 3; // 48px
 
+      // a small symbolic icon on a circle background
       &.message-themed-icon {
-        border-radius: $forced_circular_radius; // is circular
-        background-color: transparentize($fg_color, 0.8);
-        icon-size: $base_icon_size;
+        border-radius: $forced_circular_radius;
+        background-color: transparentize($fg_color, .93);
+        icon-size: $scalable_icon_size;
         min-width: $base_icon_size * 3;
         min-height: $base_icon_size * 3;
       }