diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/content/TabbedContentTabLabel.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/content/TabbedContentTabLabel.java
index a20a2a9ba2d3..d1b7468ab1c1 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/content/TabbedContentTabLabel.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/content/TabbedContentTabLabel.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import com.intellij.util.ContentUtilEx;
 import com.intellij.util.NotNullFunction;
 import com.intellij.util.ui.EmptyIcon;
 import com.intellij.util.ui.UIUtil;
+import com.intellij.util.ui.WatermarkIcon;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
@@ -152,7 +153,8 @@ public class TabbedContentTabLabel extends ContentTabLabel {
       if (nextTabWithName.getFirst().equals(ContentUtilEx.getTabNameWithoutPrefix(myContent, tabName))) {
         JComponent tab = nextTabWithName.getSecond();
         if (tab instanceof Iconable) {
-          jLabel.setIcon(((Iconable)tab).getIcon(Iconable.ICON_FLAG_VISIBILITY));
+          Icon baseIcon = ((Iconable)tab).getIcon(Iconable.ICON_FLAG_VISIBILITY);
+          jLabel.setIcon(isSelected() || baseIcon == null ? baseIcon : new WatermarkIcon(baseIcon, .5f));
         }
       }
     }