diff --git a/webssh/static/js/main.js b/webssh/static/js/main.js
index 2d85c16..c587edc 100644
--- a/webssh/static/js/main.js
+++ b/webssh/static/js/main.js
@@ -116,12 +116,20 @@ jQuery(function($){
     return {'cols': cols, 'rows': rows};
   }
 
+
   function resize_terminal(term) {
     var geometry = current_geometry(term);
     term.on_resize(geometry.cols, geometry.rows);
   }
 
 
+  function set_backgound_color(term, color) {
+    term.setOption('theme', {
+      background: color
+    });
+  }
+
+
   function format_geometry(cols, rows) {
     return JSON.stringify({'cols': cols, 'rows': rows});
   }
@@ -332,6 +340,10 @@ jQuery(function($){
       }
     };
 
+    wssh.set_bgcolor = function(color) {
+      set_backgound_color(term, color);
+    };
+
     term.on_resize = function(cols, rows) {
       if (cols !== this.cols || rows !== this.rows) {
         console.log('Resizing terminal to geometry: ' + format_geometry(cols, rows));