diff --git a/kivy/uix/effectwidget.py b/kivy/uix/effectwidget.py
index 879e2383f..0a82eb080 100644
--- a/kivy/uix/effectwidget.py
+++ b/kivy/uix/effectwidget.py
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ class EffectWidget(RelativeLayout):
         with self.fbo:
             ClearColor(0, 0, 0, 0)
             ClearBuffers()
-            Color(*self.background_color)
+            self._background_color = Color(*self.background_color)
             self.fbo_rectangle = Rectangle(size=self.size)
         with self.fbo.after:
             PopMatrix()
@@ -657,10 +657,14 @@ class EffectWidget(RelativeLayout):
         Clock.schedule_interval(self._update_glsl, 0)
 
         self.bind(size=self.refresh_fbo_setup,
-                  effects=self.refresh_fbo_setup)
+                  effects=self.refresh_fbo_setup,
+                  background_color=self._refresh_background_color)
 
         self.refresh_fbo_setup()
 
+    def _refresh_background_color(self, *args):
+        self._background_color.rgba = self.background_color
+
     def _update_glsl(self, *largs):
         '''(internal) Passes new time and resolution uniform
         variables to the shader.
@@ -683,8 +687,9 @@ class EffectWidget(RelativeLayout):
             with self.canvas:
                 new_fbo = EffectFbo(size=self.size)
             with new_fbo:
-                ClearColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+                ClearColor(0, 0, 0, 0)
                 ClearBuffers()
+                Color(1, 1, 1, 1)
                 new_fbo.texture_rectangle = Rectangle(size=self.size)
 
                 new_fbo.texture_rectangle.size = self.size