diff --git a/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index 760bec193..32eac253f 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ struct _ClutterStagePrivate
   guint is_user_resizable      : 1;
   guint use_fog                : 1;
   guint throttle_motion_events : 1;
+  guint use_alpha              : 1;
 };
 
 enum
@@ -110,7 +111,8 @@ enum
   PROP_TITLE,
   PROP_USER_RESIZE,
   PROP_USE_FOG,
-  PROP_FOG
+  PROP_FOG,
+  PROP_USE_ALPHA
 };
 
 enum
@@ -243,14 +245,25 @@ clutter_stage_paint (ClutterActor *self)
 {
   ClutterStagePrivate *priv = CLUTTER_STAGE (self)->priv;
   CoglColor stage_color;
+  guint8 real_alpha;
 
   CLUTTER_NOTE (PAINT, "Initializing stage paint");
 
+  /* composite the opacity to the stage color */
+  real_alpha = clutter_actor_get_opacity (self)
+             * priv->color.alpha
+             / 255;
+
+  /* we use the real alpha to clear the stage if :use-alpha is
+   * set; the effect depends entirely on how the Clutter backend
+   */
   cogl_color_set_from_4ub (&stage_color,
                            priv->color.red,
                            priv->color.green,
                            priv->color.blue,
-                           priv->color.alpha);
+                           priv->use_alpha ? real_alpha
+                                           : 255);
+  cogl_color_premultiply (&stage_color);
   cogl_clear (&stage_color,
 	      COGL_BUFFER_BIT_COLOR |
 	      COGL_BUFFER_BIT_DEPTH);
@@ -270,11 +283,6 @@ clutter_stage_paint (ClutterActor *self)
   else
     cogl_disable_fog ();
 
-#if 0
-  CLUTTER_NOTE (PAINT, "Proxying the paint to the stage implementation");
-  _clutter_stage_window_paint (priv->impl);
-#endif
-
   /* this will take care of painting every child */
   CLUTTER_ACTOR_CLASS (clutter_stage_parent_class)->paint (self);
 }
@@ -287,9 +295,9 @@ clutter_stage_pick (ClutterActor       *self,
    * emitted for the stage itself. The stage's pick id is effectively handled
    * by the call to cogl_clear done in clutter-main.c:_clutter_do_pick_async()
    */
-
   clutter_container_foreach (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (self),
-                             CLUTTER_CALLBACK (clutter_actor_paint), NULL);
+                             CLUTTER_CALLBACK (clutter_actor_paint),
+                             NULL);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -660,6 +668,10 @@ clutter_stage_set_property (GObject      *object,
       clutter_stage_set_fog (stage, g_value_get_boxed (value));
       break;
 
+    case PROP_USE_ALPHA:
+      clutter_stage_set_use_alpha (stage, g_value_get_boolean (value));
+      break;
+
     default:
       G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
       break;
@@ -712,6 +724,10 @@ clutter_stage_get_property (GObject    *gobject,
       g_value_set_boxed (value, &priv->fog);
       break;
 
+    case PROP_USE_ALPHA:
+      g_value_set_boolean (value, priv->use_alpha);
+      break;
+
     default:
       G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (gobject, prop_id, pspec);
       break;
@@ -939,6 +955,24 @@ clutter_stage_class_init (ClutterStageClass *klass)
                               CLUTTER_PARAM_READWRITE);
   g_object_class_install_property (gobject_class, PROP_FOG, pspec);
 
+  /**
+   * ClutterStage:use-alpha:
+   *
+   * Whether the #ClutterStage should honour the alpha component of the
+   * #ClutterStage:color property when painting. If Clutter is run under
+   * a compositing manager this will result in the stage being blended
+   * with the underlying window(s)
+   *
+   * Since: 1.2
+   */
+  pspec = g_param_spec_boolean ("use-alpha",
+                                "Use Alpha",
+                                "Whether to honour the alpha component of "
+                                "the stage color",
+                                FALSE,
+                                CLUTTER_PARAM_READWRITE);
+  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_class, PROP_USE_ALPHA, pspec);
+
   /**
    * ClutterStage::fullscreen
    * @stage: the stage which was fullscreened
@@ -2129,3 +2163,53 @@ clutter_stage_get_throttle_motion_events (ClutterStage *stage)
 
   return stage->priv->throttle_motion_events;
 }
+
+/**
+ * clutter_stage_set_use_alpha:
+ * @stage: a #ClutterStage
+ * @use_alpha: whether the stage should honour the opacity or the
+ *   alpha channel of the stage color
+ *
+ * Sets whether the @stage should honour the #ClutterActor:opacity and
+ * the alpha channel of the #ClutterStage:color
+ *
+ * Since: 1.2
+ */
+void
+clutter_stage_set_use_alpha (ClutterStage *stage,
+                             gboolean      use_alpha)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage));
+
+  priv = stage->priv;
+
+  if (priv->use_alpha != use_alpha)
+    {
+      priv->use_alpha = use_alpha;
+
+      clutter_actor_queue_redraw (CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage));
+
+      g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (stage), "use-alpha");
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * clutter_stage_get_use_alpha:
+ * @stage: a #ClutterStage
+ *
+ * Retrieves the value set using clutter_stage_set_use_alpha()
+ *
+ * Return value: %TRUE if the stage should honour the opacity and the
+ *   alpha channel of the stage color
+ *
+ * Since: 1.2
+ */
+gboolean
+clutter_stage_get_use_alpha (ClutterStage *stage)
+{
+  g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage), FALSE);
+
+  return stage->priv->use_alpha;
+}
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-stage.h b/clutter/clutter-stage.h
index fc2e4e855..f6fa0cdba 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-stage.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-stage.h
@@ -239,6 +239,10 @@ void     clutter_stage_set_throttle_motion_events (ClutterStage *stage,
                                                    gboolean      throttle);
 gboolean clutter_stage_get_throttle_motion_events (ClutterStage *stage);
 
+void                  clutter_stage_set_use_alpha      (ClutterStage *stage,
+                                                        gboolean      use_alpha);
+gboolean              clutter_stage_get_use_alpha      (ClutterStage *stage);
+
 /* Commodity macro, for mallum only */
 #define clutter_stage_add(stage,actor)                  G_STMT_START {  \
   if (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE ((stage)) && CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR ((actor)))         \
diff --git a/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c b/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c
index 1a641a776..6c292ac67 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c
+++ b/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ _cogl_material_init_default_material (void)
 #ifndef HAVE_COGL_GLES
   material->blend_equation_rgb = GL_FUNC_ADD;
   material->blend_equation_alpha = GL_FUNC_ADD;
-  material->blend_src_factor_alpha = GL_SRC_ALPHA;
+  material->blend_src_factor_alpha = GL_ONE;
   material->blend_dst_factor_alpha = GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA;
   material->blend_constant[0] = 0;
   material->blend_constant[1] = 0;
diff --git a/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.c b/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.c
index 8870037b3..ce1256e6c 100644
--- a/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.c
+++ b/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE (ClutterBackendGLX, clutter_backend_glx, CLUTTER_TYPE_BACKEND_X11)
 /* singleton object */
 static ClutterBackendGLX *backend_singleton = NULL;
 
-static gchar *clutter_vblank_name = NULL;
+static gchar    *clutter_vblank_name = NULL;
 
 #ifdef __linux__
 #define DRM_VBLANK_RELATIVE 0x1;
@@ -354,6 +354,20 @@ clutter_backend_glx_get_features (ClutterBackend *backend)
   return flags;
 }
 
+enum
+{
+  DRAWABLE_TYPE         = 0,
+  RENDER_TYPE           = 2,
+  DOUBLE_BUFFER         = 4,
+  RED_SIZE              = 6,
+  GREEN_SIZE            = 8,
+  BLUE_SIZE             = 10,
+  ALPHA_SIZE            = 12,
+  DEPTH_SIZE            = 14,
+  STENCIL_SIZE          = 16,
+  TRANSPARENT_TYPE      = 18
+};
+
 /* It seems the GLX spec never defined an invalid GLXFBConfig that
  * we could overload as an indication of error, so we have to return
  * an explicit boolean status. */
@@ -362,30 +376,43 @@ _clutter_backend_glx_get_fbconfig (ClutterBackendGLX *backend_glx,
                                    GLXFBConfig       *config)
 {
   ClutterBackendX11 *backend_x11 = CLUTTER_BACKEND_X11 (backend_glx);
-  int attributes[] = {
-    GLX_DRAWABLE_TYPE,  GLX_WINDOW_BIT,
-    GLX_RENDER_TYPE,    GLX_RGBA_BIT,
-    GLX_DOUBLEBUFFER,   GL_TRUE,
-    GLX_RED_SIZE,       1,
-    GLX_GREEN_SIZE,     1,
-    GLX_BLUE_SIZE,      1,
-    GLX_ALPHA_SIZE,     1,
-    GLX_DEPTH_SIZE,     1,
-    GLX_STENCIL_SIZE,   1,
+  GLXFBConfig *configs = NULL;
+  gboolean retval = FALSE;
+  gboolean use_argb = clutter_x11_has_argb_visuals ();
+  int n_configs, i;
+  static int attributes[] = {
+    GLX_DRAWABLE_TYPE,    GLX_WINDOW_BIT,
+    GLX_RENDER_TYPE,      GLX_RGBA_BIT,
+    GLX_DOUBLEBUFFER,     GL_TRUE,
+    GLX_RED_SIZE,         1,
+    GLX_GREEN_SIZE,       1,
+    GLX_BLUE_SIZE,        1,
+    GLX_ALPHA_SIZE,       1,
+    GLX_DEPTH_SIZE,       1,
+    GLX_STENCIL_SIZE,     1,
+    GLX_TRANSPARENT_TYPE, GLX_NONE,
     None
   };
-  GLXFBConfig *configs = NULL;
-  int n_configs;
 
   if (backend_x11->xdpy == None || backend_x11->xscreen == None)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (backend_glx->found_fbconfig)
+  if (backend_glx->found_fbconfig > 0)
     {
-      *config = backend_glx->fbconfig;
+      if (use_argb && backend_glx->found_fbconfig == 2)
+        *config = backend_glx->fbconfig_rgba;
+      else
+        *config = backend_glx->fbconfig_rgb;
+
       return TRUE;
     }
 
+  if (use_argb)
+    {
+      attributes[ALPHA_SIZE] = 8;
+      attributes[TRANSPARENT_TYPE] = GLX_TRANSPARENT_RGB;
+    }
+
   CLUTTER_NOTE (BACKEND,
                 "Retrieving GL fbconfig, dpy: %p, xscreen; %p (%d)",
                 backend_x11->xdpy,
@@ -396,16 +423,64 @@ _clutter_backend_glx_get_fbconfig (ClutterBackendGLX *backend_glx,
                                backend_x11->xscreen_num,
                                attributes,
                                &n_configs);
-  if (configs)
+  if (!configs)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  if (!use_argb)
     {
       *config = configs[0];
-      backend_glx->found_fbconfig = TRUE;
-      backend_glx->fbconfig = configs[0];
-      XFree (configs);
-      return TRUE;
+
+      backend_glx->found_fbconfig = 1;
+      backend_glx->fbconfig_rgb = configs[0];
+
+      retval = TRUE;
+
+      goto out;
     }
-  else
-    return FALSE;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < n_configs; i++)
+    {
+      XVisualInfo *vinfo;
+
+      vinfo = glXGetVisualFromFBConfig (backend_x11->xdpy, configs[i]);
+      if (vinfo == None)
+        continue;
+
+      if (vinfo->depth == 32 &&
+          (vinfo->red_mask   == 0xff0000 &&
+           vinfo->green_mask == 0x00ff00 &&
+           vinfo->blue_mask  == 0x0000ff))
+        {
+          CLUTTER_NOTE (BACKEND, "Found GLX visual ARGB [index:%d]", i);
+
+          *config = configs[i];
+
+          backend_glx->found_fbconfig = 2;
+          backend_glx->fbconfig_rgba = configs[i];
+
+          retval = TRUE;
+
+          goto out;
+        }
+    }
+
+  /* XXX - we might add a warning here */
+  if (use_argb && !backend_glx->found_fbconfig != 2)
+    {
+      CLUTTER_NOTE (BACKEND, "ARGB visual requested, but none found");
+
+      *config = configs[0];
+
+      backend_glx->found_fbconfig = 1;
+      backend_glx->fbconfig_rgb = configs[0];
+
+      retval = TRUE;
+    }
+
+out:
+  XFree (configs);
+
+  return retval;
 }
 
 static XVisualInfo *
@@ -436,12 +511,14 @@ clutter_backend_glx_create_context (ClutterBackend  *backend,
         {
           g_set_error (error, CLUTTER_INIT_ERROR,
                        CLUTTER_INIT_ERROR_BACKEND,
-                       "Unable to find suitable fbconfig for GL context");
+                       "Unable to find a suitable GLXFBConfig for "
+                       "the GLX context");
           return FALSE;
         }
 
-      CLUTTER_NOTE (GL, "Creating GL Context (display: %p)",
+      CLUTTER_NOTE (GL, "Creating GLX Context (display: %p)",
                     backend_x11->xdpy);
+
       backend_glx->gl_context =
         glXCreateNewContext (backend_x11->xdpy,
                              config,
@@ -460,7 +537,8 @@ clutter_backend_glx_create_context (ClutterBackend  *backend,
       is_direct = glXIsDirect (backend_x11->xdpy,
                                backend_glx->gl_context);
 
-      CLUTTER_NOTE (GL, "Setting %s context",
+      CLUTTER_NOTE (GL,
+                    "Setting %s context",
                     is_direct ? "direct" : "indirect");
       _cogl_set_indirect_context (!is_direct);
     }
diff --git a/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.h b/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.h
index 2bd380813..e7d6d9836 100644
--- a/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.h
+++ b/clutter/glx/clutter-backend-glx.h
@@ -63,8 +63,9 @@ struct _ClutterBackendGLX
   ClutterBackendX11 parent_instance;
 
   /* Single context for all wins */
-  gboolean               found_fbconfig;
-  GLXFBConfig            fbconfig;
+  gint                   found_fbconfig;
+  GLXFBConfig            fbconfig_rgb;
+  GLXFBConfig            fbconfig_rgba;
   GLXContext             gl_context;
 
   /* Vblank stuff */
diff --git a/clutter/glx/clutter-glx.h b/clutter/glx/clutter-glx.h
index bb2455b8a..967cfec90 100644
--- a/clutter/glx/clutter-glx.h
+++ b/clutter/glx/clutter-glx.h
@@ -43,9 +43,4 @@
 #include <clutter/clutter.h>
 #include <clutter/glx/clutter-glx-texture-pixmap.h>
 
-G_BEGIN_DECLS
-
-
-G_END_DECLS
-
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_GLX_H__ */
diff --git a/clutter/glx/clutter-stage-glx.c b/clutter/glx/clutter-stage-glx.c
index 9c1105b2e..f770c88d3 100644
--- a/clutter/glx/clutter-stage-glx.c
+++ b/clutter/glx/clutter-stage-glx.c
@@ -105,18 +105,11 @@ clutter_stage_glx_realize (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window)
     {
       XSetWindowAttributes xattr;
       unsigned long mask;
-      GLXFBConfig config;
       XVisualInfo *xvisinfo;
 
       CLUTTER_NOTE (MISC, "Creating stage X window");
 
-      if (!_clutter_backend_glx_get_fbconfig (backend_glx, &config))
-        {
-          g_critical ("Unable to find suitable FBConfig to realize stage.");
-          return FALSE;
-        }
-
-      xvisinfo = glXGetVisualFromFBConfig (backend_x11->xdpy, config);
+      xvisinfo = clutter_backend_x11_get_visual_info (backend_x11);
       if (xvisinfo == NULL)
         {
           g_critical ("Unable to find suitable GL visual.");
@@ -145,9 +138,9 @@ clutter_stage_glx_realize (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window)
       XFree (xvisinfo);
     }
 
-  if (clutter_x11_has_event_retrieval())
+  if (clutter_x11_has_event_retrieval ())
     {
-      if (clutter_x11_has_xinput())
+      if (clutter_x11_has_xinput ())
         {
           XSelectInput (backend_x11->xdpy, stage_x11->xwin,
                         StructureNotifyMask |
diff --git a/clutter/x11/clutter-backend-x11.c b/clutter/x11/clutter-backend-x11.c
index ae6ff824c..ec9afebea 100644
--- a/clutter/x11/clutter-backend-x11.c
+++ b/clutter/x11/clutter-backend-x11.c
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ static ClutterBackendX11 *backend_singleton = NULL;
 /* various flags corresponding to pre init setup calls */
 static gboolean _no_xevent_retrieval = FALSE;
 static gboolean clutter_enable_xinput = FALSE;
+static gboolean clutter_enable_argb = TRUE;
 static Display  *_foreign_dpy = NULL;
 
 /* options */
@@ -124,6 +125,13 @@ clutter_backend_x11_pre_parse (ClutterBackend  *backend,
       env_string = NULL;
     }
 
+  env_string = g_getenv ("CLUTTER_DISABLE_ARGB_VISUAL");
+  if (env_string)
+    {
+      clutter_enable_argb = FALSE;
+      env_string = NULL;
+    }
+
   return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -980,6 +988,12 @@ clutter_x11_has_composite_extension (void)
   return have_composite;
 }
 
+gboolean
+clutter_x11_has_argb_visuals (void)
+{
+  return clutter_enable_argb;
+}
+
 XVisualInfo *
 clutter_backend_x11_get_visual_info (ClutterBackendX11 *backend_x11)
 {
@@ -993,4 +1007,3 @@ clutter_backend_x11_get_visual_info (ClutterBackendX11 *backend_x11)
 
   return NULL;
 }
-
diff --git a/clutter/x11/clutter-x11.h b/clutter/x11/clutter-x11.h
index 58fc7a63e..2b960578c 100644
--- a/clutter/x11/clutter-x11.h
+++ b/clutter/x11/clutter-x11.h
@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ gboolean clutter_x11_has_xinput (void);
 
 gboolean clutter_x11_has_composite_extension (void);
 
+gboolean clutter_x11_has_argb_visuals (void);
+
 Time clutter_x11_get_current_event_time (void);
 
 G_END_DECLS
diff --git a/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt b/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt
index d1c34ba0a..27b5e89ea 100644
--- a/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt
+++ b/doc/reference/clutter/clutter-sections.txt
@@ -524,6 +524,8 @@ clutter_stage_get_key_focus
 clutter_stage_read_pixels
 clutter_stage_set_throttle_motion_events
 clutter_stage_get_throttle_motion_events
+clutter_stage_set_use_alpha
+clutter_stage_get_use_alpha
 
 <SUBSECTION>
 ClutterPerspective
diff --git a/tests/interactive/test-paint-wrapper.c b/tests/interactive/test-paint-wrapper.c
index 7b14cef42..3a654e4f5 100644
--- a/tests/interactive/test-paint-wrapper.c
+++ b/tests/interactive/test-paint-wrapper.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ typedef struct SuperOH
 } SuperOH;
 
 static gint n_hands = NHANDS;
+static gint use_alpha = 255;
 
 static GOptionEntry super_oh_entries[] = {
   {
@@ -39,6 +40,12 @@ static GOptionEntry super_oh_entries[] = {
     G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &n_hands,
     "Number of hands", "HANDS"
   },
+  {
+    "use-alpha", 'a',
+    0,
+    G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &use_alpha,
+    "Stage opacity", "VALUE"
+  },
   { NULL }
 };
 
@@ -205,6 +212,12 @@ test_paint_wrapper_main (int argc, char *argv[])
   stage = clutter_stage_get_default ();
   clutter_actor_set_size (stage, 800, 600);
 
+  if (use_alpha != 255)
+    {
+      clutter_stage_set_use_alpha (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), TRUE);
+      clutter_actor_set_opacity (stage, use_alpha);
+    }
+
   clutter_stage_set_title (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), "Paint Test");
   clutter_stage_set_color (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), &stage_color);