diff --git a/static/styles/night_mode.scss b/static/styles/night_mode.scss
index 20f34b291d..11667931ba 100644
--- a/static/styles/night_mode.scss
+++ b/static/styles/night_mode.scss
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ on a dark background, and don't change the dark labels dark either. */
 
     .message-header-contents,
     .message_header_private_message .message-header-contents,
-    #tab_list li.active {
+    #tab_bar #tab_list li.active {
         background-color: hsla(0, 0%, 0%, 0.2);
     }
 
diff --git a/static/styles/zulip.scss b/static/styles/zulip.scss
index e466f0794b..5250b5d023 100644
--- a/static/styles/zulip.scss
+++ b/static/styles/zulip.scss
@@ -1793,7 +1793,6 @@ a:hover code {
         }
 
         li.inactive {
-            background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 88%);
             border-width: 0px;
             margin-right: -4px;
             font-size: 14px;