diff --git a/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.cpp b/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.cpp
index 21353cc1b23..1f935b21a19 100644
--- a/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.cpp
+++ b/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ CPanelPreferences::~CPanelPreferences( )
 bool CPanelPreferences::Create()
 {
     m_backgroundBitmap = NULL;
+    lastErrorCtrl = NULL;
+    stdTextBkgdColor = *wxWHITE;
 
     CreateControls();
 
@@ -846,6 +848,16 @@ void CPanelPreferences::ShowErrorMessage(wxString& message,wxTextCtrl* errorCtrl
     if(message.IsEmpty()){
         message = _("invalid input value detected");
     }
+    if (lastErrorCtrl) {
+        lastErrorCtrl->SetBackgroundColour(stdTextBkgdColor);
+        lastErrorCtrl->Refresh();
+    }
+    if (lastErrorCtrl != errorCtrl) {
+        stdTextBkgdColor = errorCtrl->GetBackgroundColour();
+    }
+    errorCtrl->SetBackgroundColour(wxColour(255, 192, 192));
+    errorCtrl->Refresh();
+    lastErrorCtrl = errorCtrl;
     wxGetApp().SafeMessageBox(message,_("Validation Error"),wxOK | wxCENTRE | wxICON_ERROR,this);
     errorCtrl->SetFocus();
 }
diff --git a/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.h b/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.h
index 97805de0db8..5027d624649 100644
--- a/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.h
+++ b/clientgui/sg_DlgPreferences.h
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ class CPanelPreferences: public wxPanel
     wxBitmap* m_backgroundBitmap;
     
     bool m_bOKToShow;
+
+    wxColour stdTextBkgdColor;
+    wxTextCtrl* lastErrorCtrl;
    
 ////@end CPanelPreferences member variables
     GLOBAL_PREFS      global_preferences_working;