diff --git a/objects/client.c b/objects/client.c
index 0161520ff..d0f3efa5a 100644
--- a/objects/client.c
+++ b/objects/client.c
@@ -432,7 +432,8 @@ client_manage(xcb_window_t w, xcb_get_geometry_reply_t *wgeom, bool startup)
                       wgeom->x, wgeom->y, wgeom->width, wgeom->height,
                       wgeom->border_width, XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, globalconf.visual->visual_id,
                       XCB_CW_BACK_PIXEL | XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL | XCB_CW_BIT_GRAVITY
-                      | XCB_CW_WIN_GRAVITY | XCB_CW_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT | XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK,
+                      | XCB_CW_WIN_GRAVITY | XCB_CW_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT | XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK
+                      | XCB_CW_COLORMAP,
                       (const uint32_t [])
                       {
                           globalconf.colors.bg.pixel,
@@ -440,7 +441,8 @@ client_manage(xcb_window_t w, xcb_get_geometry_reply_t *wgeom, bool startup)
                           XCB_GRAVITY_NORTH_WEST,
                           XCB_GRAVITY_NORTH_WEST,
                           1,
-                          FRAME_SELECT_INPUT_EVENT_MASK
+                          FRAME_SELECT_INPUT_EVENT_MASK,
+                          globalconf.default_cmap
                       });
     xcb_reparent_window(globalconf.connection, w, c->frame_window, 0, 0);
     xcb_map_window(globalconf.connection, w);
diff --git a/objects/wibox.c b/objects/wibox.c
index 043c56a9d..9e757538e 100644
--- a/objects/wibox.c
+++ b/objects/wibox.c
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ wibox_init(wibox_t *w)
                       w->geometry.width, w->geometry.height,
                       w->border_width, XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, globalconf.visual->visual_id,
                       XCB_CW_BACK_PIXEL | XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL | XCB_CW_BIT_GRAVITY
-                      | XCB_CW_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT | XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK,
+                      | XCB_CW_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT | XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK | XCB_CW_COLORMAP,
                       (const uint32_t [])
                       {
                           w->ctx.bg.pixel,
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ wibox_init(wibox_t *w)
                           | XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_NOTIFY | XCB_EVENT_MASK_ENTER_WINDOW
                           | XCB_EVENT_MASK_LEAVE_WINDOW | XCB_EVENT_MASK_STRUCTURE_NOTIFY
                           | XCB_EVENT_MASK_POINTER_MOTION | XCB_EVENT_MASK_EXPOSURE
-                          | XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE
+                          | XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE,
+                          globalconf.default_cmap
                       });
 
     /* Create a pixmap. */
diff --git a/systray.c b/systray.c
index a86550acb..0c9accbee 100644
--- a/systray.c
+++ b/systray.c
@@ -46,7 +46,14 @@ systray_init(void)
                       globalconf.systray.window,
                       xscreen->root,
                       -1, -1, 1, 1, 0,
-                      XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, globalconf.visual->visual_id, 0, NULL);
+                      XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, globalconf.visual->visual_id,
+                      XCB_CW_BACK_PIXEL | XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL | XCB_CW_COLORMAP,
+                      (const uint32_t [])
+                      {
+                          globalconf.colors.bg.pixel,
+                          globalconf.colors.bg.pixel,
+                          globalconf.default_cmap
+                      });
 }