diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TabBase.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TabBase.cpp
index 7c80e36686..7fa6418cc1 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TabBase.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TabBase.cpp
@@ -528,6 +528,9 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         tabItemThemeResources.Insert(winrt::box_value(L"Dark"), darkThemeDictionary);
         tabItemThemeResources.Insert(winrt::box_value(L"HighContrast"), highContrastThemeDictionary);
 
+        // Apply the color to the tab
+        TabViewItem().Background(deselectedTabBrush);
+
         // Now actually set the resources we want in them.
         // Before, we used to put these on the ResourceDictionary directly.
         // However, HighContrast mode may require some adjustments. So let's just add
@@ -560,7 +563,6 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             currentDictionary.Insert(winrt::box_value(L"TabViewItemHeaderSelectedCloseButtonForeground"), fontBrush);
 
             // TabViewItem.CloseButton.Background (aka X button)
-            currentDictionary.Insert(winrt::box_value(L"TabViewItemHeaderCloseButtonBackground"), deselectedTabBrush);
             currentDictionary.Insert(winrt::box_value(L"TabViewItemHeaderCloseButtonBackgroundPressed"), isHighContrast ? selectedTabBrush : subtleFillColorTertiaryBrush);
             currentDictionary.Insert(winrt::box_value(L"TabViewItemHeaderCloseButtonBackgroundPointerOver"), isHighContrast ? selectedTabBrush : subtleFillColorSecondaryBrush);