diff --git a/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java b/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java
index 8996935c70dc..43b21a46067f 100644
--- a/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java
+++ b/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ public abstract class JBEditorTabsPainter {
   public abstract Color getBackgroundColor();
 
   public Color getEmptySpaceColor() {
-    return UIUtil.isUnderAquaLookAndFeel() ? Gray.xC8 : UIUtil.getPanelBackground();
+    return UIUtil.getPanelBackground();
   }
 
   public void setDefaultTabColor(Color color) {
diff --git a/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/newImpl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java b/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/newImpl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java
index 76fde0bad688..e879c56cb979 100644
--- a/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/newImpl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java
+++ b/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/newImpl/JBEditorTabsPainter.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public abstract class JBEditorTabsPainter {
   public abstract Color getBackgroundColor();
 
   public Color getEmptySpaceColor() {
-    return UIUtil.isUnderAquaLookAndFeel() ? Gray.xC8 : UIUtil.getPanelBackground();
+    return UIUtil.getPanelBackground();
   }
 
   public void setDefaultTabColor(Color color) {