diff --git a/astrid/res/layout/task_list_body_user.xml b/astrid/res/layout/task_list_body_user.xml
index c6711105d..2c4a375e2 100644
--- a/astrid/res/layout/task_list_body_user.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/layout/task_list_body_user.xml
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@
 	        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
 	        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:layout_alignTop="@id/user_image" 
-	        android:layout_toRightOf="@id/user_image"/>
+	        android:layout_toRightOf="@id/user_image"
+	        android:textColor="@android:color/black"/>
 	    
 	</RelativeLayout>
   
diff --git a/astrid/res/values/attrs.xml b/astrid/res/values/attrs.xml
index 00bace149..96c96544c 100644
--- a/astrid/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
   
   <attr name="asThemeTextColor" format="color"/>
   <attr name="asEditTextBackground" format="reference"/>
+  <attr name="asReadonlyTaskBackground" format="color" />
   <attr name="asListsDisclosure" format="reference"/>
   <attr name="asAddButtonImg" format="reference" />
   <attr name="asMicButtonImg" format="reference" />
diff --git a/astrid/res/values/styles.xml b/astrid/res/values/styles.xml
index 17a8e7734..3eb975e78 100644
--- a/astrid/res/values/styles.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/values/styles.xml
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
         <item name="asListArrowUp">@drawable/list_arrow_up_white</item>
         <item name="asFilterSelectedIcon">@drawable/filter_selected_icon</item>
         <item name="asTaskRowSelector">@drawable/task_row_bg_dark</item>
+        <item name="asReadonlyTaskBackground">#322c19</item>
         
         <!-- actionbar-styling -->
         <item name="abBackground">@drawable/header_blue</item>
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@
         <item name="asListArrowUp">@drawable/list_arrow_up</item>
         <item name="asFilterSelectedIcon">@drawable/filter_selected_icon_black</item>
         <item name="asTaskRowSelector">@drawable/task_row_bg_white</item>
+        <item name="asReadonlyTaskBackground">#fff6d7</item>
         
         <!-- actionbar-styling -->
         <item name="abBackground">@drawable/header_red</item>
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java
index 0d2258e04..2cc49dc37 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import android.text.Spanned;
 import android.text.TextUtils;
 import android.util.DisplayMetrics;
 import android.util.Log;
+import android.util.TypedValue;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
 import android.view.MotionEvent;
 import android.view.View;
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ public class TaskAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
     protected int applyListeners = APPLY_LISTENERS_PARENT;
     private long mostRecentlyMade = -1;
     private final ScaleAnimation scaleAnimation;
+    private final int readonlyBackground;
 
     private final AtomicReference<String> query;
 
@@ -251,6 +253,10 @@ public class TaskAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
                 Animation.RELATIVE_TO_SELF, 0.5f, Animation.RELATIVE_TO_SELF, 0.5f);
         scaleAnimation.setDuration(100);
 
+        TypedValue readonlyBg = new TypedValue();
+        fragment.getActivity().getTheme().resolveAttribute(R.attr.asReadonlyTaskBackground, readonlyBg, false);
+        readonlyBackground = readonlyBg.data;
+
     }
 
     private int computeMinRowHeight() {
@@ -401,6 +407,11 @@ public class TaskAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
             viewHolder.completeBox.setMinimumHeight(minRowHeight);
         }
 
+        if (task.isEditable())
+            viewHolder.view.setBackgroundColor(resources.getColor(android.R.color.transparent));
+        else
+            viewHolder.view.setBackgroundColor(readonlyBackground);
+
         // name
         final TextView nameView = viewHolder.nameView; {
             String nameValue = task.getValue(Task.TITLE);