diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout-large-land/player.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout-large-land/player.xml
index 10f5a60a0..5ffb7e0fb 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout-large-land/player.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout-large-land/player.xml
@@ -63,10 +63,12 @@
         android:background="@color/video_overlay_color"
         tools:visibility="visible" />
 
+    <!-- transparent background is needed for selectableItemBackgroundBorderless to work -->
     <RelativeLayout
         android:id="@+id/playbackControlRoot"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:background="@color/transparent_background_color"
         android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
         android:visibility="gone"
         tools:visibility="visible">
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/player.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/player.xml
index 3625e0e69..22817c4e6 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/player.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/player.xml
@@ -63,10 +63,12 @@
         android:background="@color/video_overlay_color"
         tools:visibility="visible" />
 
+    <!-- transparent background is needed for selectableItemBackgroundBorderless to work -->
     <RelativeLayout
         android:id="@+id/playbackControlRoot"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:background="@color/transparent_background_color"
         android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
         android:visibility="gone"
         tools:visibility="visible">