diff --git a/theme.cpp b/theme.cpp
index 516780385..31a346ecc 100644
--- a/theme.cpp
+++ b/theme.cpp
@@ -273,6 +273,10 @@ QColor Theme::color(ColorRole role) const
             return colorScheme.foreground(KColorScheme::NormalText).color();
             break;
 
+        case HighlightColor:
+            return colorScheme.background(KColorScheme::ActiveBackground).color();
+            break;
+
         case BackgroundColor:
             return colorScheme.background().color();
             break;
diff --git a/theme.h b/theme.h
index 7562e10c1..45252428a 100644
--- a/theme.h
+++ b/theme.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Theme : public QObject
         enum ColorRole
         {
             TextColor = 0 /**<  the text color to be used by items resting on the background */,
+            HighlightColor = 1 /**<  the text higlight color to be used by items resting on the background */,
             BackgroundColor /**< the default background color */
         };