diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index 1bd88bcd3..217308a1d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -3737,7 +3737,7 @@ clutter_actor_paint (ClutterActor        *self,
   if (!CLUTTER_ACTOR_IS_MAPPED (self))
     return;
 
-  actor_node = clutter_actor_node_new (self);
+  actor_node = clutter_actor_node_new (self, -1);
   root_node = clutter_paint_node_ref (actor_node);
 
   if (priv->has_clip)
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-effect.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-effect.c
index 33664fabc..4fa88efb8 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-effect.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-effect.c
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ clutter_effect_real_paint_node (ClutterEffect           *effect,
 
   actor = clutter_actor_meta_get_actor (CLUTTER_ACTOR_META (effect));
 
-  actor_node = clutter_actor_node_new (actor);
+  actor_node = clutter_actor_node_new (actor, -1);
   clutter_paint_node_add_child (node, actor_node);
   clutter_paint_node_unref (actor_node);
 }
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c
index f39336c01..5c7b60e3e 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.c
@@ -1115,6 +1115,8 @@ struct _ClutterActorNode
   ClutterPaintNode parent_instance;
 
   ClutterActor *actor;
+  int opacity_override;
+  int old_opacity_override;
 };
 
 struct _ClutterActorNodeClass
@@ -1130,6 +1132,14 @@ clutter_actor_node_pre_draw (ClutterPaintNode    *node,
 {
   ClutterActorNode *actor_node = CLUTTER_ACTOR_NODE (node);
 
+  if (actor_node->opacity_override != -1)
+    {
+      actor_node->old_opacity_override =
+        clutter_actor_get_opacity_override (actor_node->actor);
+      clutter_actor_set_opacity_override (actor_node->actor,
+                                          actor_node->opacity_override);
+    }
+
   CLUTTER_SET_PRIVATE_FLAGS (actor_node->actor, CLUTTER_IN_PAINT);
 
   return TRUE;
@@ -1151,6 +1161,12 @@ clutter_actor_node_post_draw (ClutterPaintNode    *node,
   ClutterActorNode *actor_node = CLUTTER_ACTOR_NODE (node);
 
   CLUTTER_UNSET_PRIVATE_FLAGS (actor_node->actor, CLUTTER_IN_PAINT);
+
+ if (actor_node->opacity_override != -1)
+    {
+      clutter_actor_set_opacity_override (actor_node->actor,
+                                          actor_node->old_opacity_override);
+    }
 }
 
 static JsonNode *
@@ -1192,6 +1208,7 @@ clutter_actor_node_init (ClutterActorNode *self)
 /*
  * clutter_actor_node_new:
  * @actor: the actor to paint
+ * @opacity: opacity to draw the actor with, or -1 to use the actor's opacity
  *
  * Creates a new #ClutterActorNode.
  *
@@ -1203,7 +1220,8 @@ clutter_actor_node_init (ClutterActorNode *self)
  *   Use clutter_paint_node_unref() when done.
  */
 ClutterPaintNode *
-clutter_actor_node_new (ClutterActor *actor)
+clutter_actor_node_new (ClutterActor *actor,
+                        int           opacity)
 {
   ClutterActorNode *res;
 
@@ -1211,6 +1229,7 @@ clutter_actor_node_new (ClutterActor *actor)
 
   res = _clutter_paint_node_create (CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_NODE);
   res->actor = actor;
+  res->opacity_override = CLAMP (opacity, -1, 255);
 
   return (ClutterPaintNode *) res;
 }
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h
index 235f4bc45..c950899c5 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-paint-nodes.h
@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@ CLUTTER_EXPORT
 GType clutter_actor_node_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
-ClutterPaintNode * clutter_actor_node_new (ClutterActor *actor);
+ClutterPaintNode * clutter_actor_node_new (ClutterActor *actor,
+                                           int           opacity);
 
 #define CLUTTER_TYPE_ROOT_NODE                  (clutter_root_node_get_type ())
 #define CLUTTER_ROOT_NODE(obj)                  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST ((obj), CLUTTER_TYPE_ROOT_NODE, ClutterRootNode))