diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_common.scss b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_common.scss
index a14012f7e..002dc6d22 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_common.scss
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_common.scss
@@ -193,6 +193,9 @@ stage {
   padding: $base_padding * 2;
   font-weight: bold !important;
 
+  &:ltr {margin-right: 1px;}
+  &:rtl {margin-left: 1px;}
+
   // needs a 1px adjustment to fit exactly into the outer radius
   $bubble_button_radius: $modal_radius - 1px;
 
diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_drawing.scss b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_drawing.scss
index b95dbba88..d206d1c19 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_drawing.scss
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/_drawing.scss
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
   // background color override for card elements
   @if $style == 'card' { $button_bg_color: $card_bg_color;}
   // background color override for buttons in notifications
-  @if $style == 'bubble' { $button_bg_color: if($variant == 'light', darken($button_bg_color, 3%), lighten($button_bg_color, 10%));}
+  @if $style == 'bubble' { $button_bg_color: if($variant == 'light', darken($button_bg_color, 3%), lighten($button_bg_color, 5%));}
   // background color mix override for flat style; the button bg color is the background color input
   @if $style == 'flat' { $button_bg_color: $c;}
   // background color mix override for default button style