diff --git a/include/internal/catch_console_colour_impl.hpp b/include/internal/catch_console_colour_impl.hpp
index 2c4b36c3..9ca915ff 100644
--- a/include/internal/catch_console_colour_impl.hpp
+++ b/include/internal/catch_console_colour_impl.hpp
@@ -60,12 +60,13 @@ namespace {
         {
             CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO csbiInfo;
             GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo( stdoutHandle, &csbiInfo );
-            originalAttributes = csbiInfo.wAttributes;
+            originalForegroundAttributes = csbiInfo.wAttributes & ~( BACKGROUND_GREEN | BACKGROUND_RED | BACKGROUND_BLUE | BACKGROUND_INTENSITY );
+            originalBackgroundAttributes = csbiInfo.wAttributes & ~( FOREGROUND_GREEN | FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_BLUE | FOREGROUND_INTENSITY );
         }
 
         virtual void use( Colour::Code _colourCode ) {
             switch( _colourCode ) {
-                case Colour::None:      return setTextAttribute( originalAttributes );
+                case Colour::None:      return setTextAttribute( originalForegroundAttributes );
                 case Colour::White:     return setTextAttribute( FOREGROUND_GREEN | FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_BLUE );
                 case Colour::Red:       return setTextAttribute( FOREGROUND_RED );
                 case Colour::Green:     return setTextAttribute( FOREGROUND_GREEN );
@@ -85,10 +86,11 @@ namespace {
 
     private:
         void setTextAttribute( WORD _textAttribute ) {
-            SetConsoleTextAttribute( stdoutHandle, _textAttribute );
+            SetConsoleTextAttribute( stdoutHandle, _textAttribute | originalBackgroundAttributes );
         }
         HANDLE stdoutHandle;
-        WORD originalAttributes;
+        WORD originalForegroundAttributes;
+        WORD originalBackgroundAttributes;
     };
 
     IColourImpl* platformColourInstance() {