diff --git a/lib/wibox/widget/background.lua.in b/lib/wibox/widget/background.lua.in
index 12fa9b1e8..ad95e8b0d 100644
--- a/lib/wibox/widget/background.lua.in
+++ b/lib/wibox/widget/background.lua.in
@@ -34,7 +34,14 @@ function draw(box, wibox, cr, width, height)
 
     cr:restore()
 
+    if box.foreground then
+        cr:save()
+        cr:set_source(box.foreground)
+    end
     layout_base.draw_widget(wibox, cr, box.widget, 0, 0, width, height)
+    if box.foreground then
+        cr:restore()
+    end
 end
 
 --- Fit this widget into the given area
@@ -69,6 +76,16 @@ function set_bg(box, bg)
     box._emit_updated()
 end
 
+--- Set the foreground to use
+function set_fg(box, fg)
+    if fg then
+        box.foreground = color(fg)
+    else
+        box.foreground = nil
+    end
+    box._emit_updated()
+end
+
 --- Set the background image to use
 function set_bgimage(box, image)
     local image = image