diff --git a/src/gui_w32.c b/src/gui_w32.c
index 02d2e096b..1c3369131 100644
--- a/src/gui_w32.c
+++ b/src/gui_w32.c
@@ -1282,7 +1282,11 @@ vim_WindowProc(HWND hwnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
     void
 gui_mch_new_colors(void)
 {
-    /* nothing to do? */
+    s_brush = CreateSolidBrush(gui.back_pixel);
+    HBRUSH prevBrush = (HBRUSH)SetClassLongPtr(s_hwnd, GCLP_HBRBACKGROUND, (LONG_PTR)s_brush);
+
+    InvalidateRect(s_hwnd, NULL, TRUE);
+    DeleteObject(prevBrush);
 }
 
 /*