diff --git a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/attrs_sc.xml b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/attrs_sc.xml
index 09454e6e69..7644c2d821 100644
--- a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/attrs_sc.xml
+++ b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/attrs_sc.xml
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
         <attr name="dense_dropdown_text_input" format="reference" />
 
+        <attr name="message_highlight_bg_color" format="color" />
+
     </declare-styleable>
 
 </resources>
diff --git a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/colors_sc.xml b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/colors_sc.xml
index 97fb023ac3..aafbe7f487 100644
--- a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/colors_sc.xml
+++ b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/colors_sc.xml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     <color name="accent_sc">#8BC34A</color>
     <color name="accent_sc_alpha25">#3F8BC34A</color>
     <color name="accent_sc_alpha12">#1E8BC34A</color>
+    <color name="accent_sc_noalpha12">#edf4e6</color> <!-- same as accent_sc_alpha12 when displayed on #fafafa -->
     <color name="accent_sc_dark">#689F38</color>
     <color name="accent_sc_50">#F1F8E9</color>
     <color name="accent_sc_100">#DCEDC8</color>
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
     <color name="background_dark_sc">#ff212121</color>
     <color name="background_black_sc">#ff000000</color>
     <color name="background_floating_sc">#ff424242</color>
+    <color name="background_sc_bright">#ff616161</color>
     <color name="background_touch_guard_sc">#bf000000</color>
 
     <!-- Light theme text/foreground colors -->
diff --git a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_dark.xml b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_dark.xml
index c3113b2d65..e014c74f6d 100644
--- a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_dark.xml
+++ b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_dark.xml
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
         <item name="timestamp_overlay_bg">@color/timestamp_overlay_bg</item>
         <item name="colorAccentPale">@color/element_accent_pale</item>
         <item name="dense_dropdown_text_input">@style/Widget.Vector.TextInputLayout.Dense.ExposedDropdownMenu.Dark.SC</item>
+        <item name="message_highlight_bg_color">?vctr_header_background</item>
 
         <item name="android:statusBarColor">@color/android_status_bar_background_dark</item>
         <item name="android:navigationBarColor">@color/android_navigation_bar_background_dark</item>
diff --git a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_light.xml b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_light.xml
index d1156dafd1..baa04c49d1 100644
--- a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_light.xml
+++ b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_light.xml
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
         <item name="timestamp_overlay_bg">@color/timestamp_overlay_bg</item>
         <item name="colorAccentPale">@color/element_accent_pale</item>
         <item name="dense_dropdown_text_input">@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.TextInputLayout.OutlinedBox.Dense.ExposedDropdownMenu</item>
+        <item name="message_highlight_bg_color">?vctr_header_background</item>
 
         <!-- Use dark color, to have enough contrast with icons color. windowLightStatusBar is only available in API 23+ -->
         <item name="android:statusBarColor">@color/android_status_bar_background_dark</item>
diff --git a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc.xml b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc.xml
index 3905f72bb2..60751a1806 100644
--- a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc.xml
+++ b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc.xml
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
         <item name="sc_message_bg_outgoing">@color/background_sc</item>
         <item name="riotx_unread_unimportant_room_badge">@color/background_floating_sc</item>
         <item name="colorAccentPale">@color/accent_sc_pale</item>
+        <item name="message_highlight_bg_color">@color/accent_sc_alpha25</item>
 
         <item name="android:statusBarColor">@color/background_black_sc</item>
         <item name="android:navigationBarColor">@color/background_black_sc</item>
@@ -107,11 +108,13 @@
     <style name="AppTheme.Base.SC.Colored">
         <item name="sc_message_bg_incoming">@color/background_floating_sc</item>
         <item name="sc_message_bg_outgoing">@color/accent_sc_alpha25</item>
+        <item name="message_highlight_bg_color">@color/background_sc_bright</item>
     </style>
 
     <style name="AppTheme.Base.SC.Dark.Colored">
         <item name="sc_message_bg_incoming">@color/background_floating_sc</item>
         <item name="sc_message_bg_outgoing">@color/accent_sc_alpha25</item>
+        <item name="message_highlight_bg_color">@color/background_sc_bright</item>
     </style>
 
 
diff --git a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc_light.xml b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc_light.xml
index 0cab1f6896..3b37f0f941 100644
--- a/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc_light.xml
+++ b/library/ui-styles/src/main/res/values/theme_sc_light.xml
@@ -83,9 +83,10 @@
         <item name="colorAccent">@color/accent_sc</item>
         <item name="android:colorAccent">@color/accent_sc</item>
         <item name="sc_message_bg_incoming">@color/background_sc_light_secondary</item>
-        <item name="sc_message_bg_outgoing">@color/accent_sc_alpha12</item>
+        <item name="sc_message_bg_outgoing">@color/accent_sc_noalpha12</item>
         <item name="riotx_unread_unimportant_room_badge">#737373</item><!-- like text_color_secondary_sc_light, but without transparency -->
         <item name="colorAccentPale">@color/accent_sc_pale</item>
+        <item name="message_highlight_bg_color">#ffe0e0e0</item>
 
         <item name="android:statusBarColor">@color/background_black_sc</item>
         <item name="android:navigationBarColor">@color/background_black_sc</item>
diff --git a/vector/src/main/res/drawable/highlighted_message_background.xml b/vector/src/main/res/drawable/highlighted_message_background.xml
index 78255c6804..405d776b35 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/res/drawable/highlighted_message_background.xml
+++ b/vector/src/main/res/drawable/highlighted_message_background.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
             <item android:left="6dp" android:right="2dp">
                 <shape>
                     <corners android:bottomRightRadius="4dp" android:topRightRadius="4dp" />
-                    <solid android:color="?vctr_header_background" />
+                    <solid android:color="?message_highlight_bg_color" />
                 </shape>
             </item>