diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
index 329137fa4..2fd184a39 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ module Hledger.Utils.IO (
   colorB,
   bgColorB,
   terminalIsLight,
+  terminalLightness,
   terminalFgColor,
   terminalBgColor,
 
@@ -236,9 +237,14 @@ bgColorB int col (WideBuilder s w) =
 
 -- | Detect whether the terminal currently has a light background colour,
 -- if possible, using unsafePerformIO.
+-- If the terminal is transparent, its apparent light/darkness may be different.
 terminalIsLight :: Maybe Bool
-terminalIsLight = (>lightthreshold).lightness <$> terminalColor Background
-  where lightthreshold = 0.7
+terminalIsLight = (> 0.5) <$> terminalLightness
+
+-- | Detect the terminal's current background lightness (0..1), if possible, using unsafePerformIO.
+-- If the terminal is transparent, its apparent lightness may be different.
+terminalLightness :: Maybe Float
+terminalLightness = lightness <$> terminalColor Background
 
 -- | Detect the terminal's current background colour, if possible, using unsafePerformIO.
 terminalBgColor :: Maybe (RGB Float)
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
index 7e6f10117..a57bfbf7c 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
@@ -152,7 +152,9 @@ _banner_speed = drop 1 [""
 -- | Choose and apply an accent color for hledger output, if possible
 -- picking one that will contrast with the current terminal background colour.
 accent :: String -> String
-accent = if terminalIsLight == Just False then yellow else blue
+accent
+  | terminalIsLight == Just False = bold . yellow -- . blackBg
+  | otherwise                     = bold . green  -- . blackBg
 
 highlightAddon = id