diff --git a/lib/awful/widget/common.lua b/lib/awful/widget/common.lua
index 0bff7a77a..95c8fa27e 100644
--- a/lib/awful/widget/common.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/widget/common.lua
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ local function default_template()
     return custom_template {
         widget_template = {
             id = 'background_role',
+            border_strategy = 'inner',
             widget = wibox.container.background,
             {
                 widget = wibox.layout.fixed.horizontal,