diff --git a/tests/interactive/borders.js b/tests/interactive/borders.js
index ba8d1e0ac..8419ffbe2 100644
--- a/tests/interactive/borders.js
+++ b/tests/interactive/borders.js
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ box.add(framedGradients);
 
 function addGradientCase(direction, borderWidth, borderRadius, extra) {
     let gradientBox = new St.BoxLayout({ style_class: 'background-gradient',
-                                         style: 'border: ' + borderWidth + 'px solid #8b8b8b;'
+                                         style: 'border: ' + borderWidth + 'px solid #8b0000;'
                                                 + 'border-radius: ' + borderRadius + 'px;'
                                                 + 'background-gradient-direction: ' + direction + ';'
                                                 + 'width: 32px;'
diff --git a/tests/testcommon/test.css b/tests/testcommon/test.css
index 34611118b..af5661714 100644
--- a/tests/testcommon/test.css
+++ b/tests/testcommon/test.css
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ stage {
 }
 
 .background-gradient {
-    background-gradient-start: #88ff88;
-    background-gradient-end: #8888ff;
+    background-gradient-start: rgba(127, 255, 127, .6);
+    background-gradient-end: rgba(127, 127, 255, .6);
 }
 
 .border-image-with-background-gradient {