diff --git a/pyqtgraph/opengl/items/GLGridItem.py b/pyqtgraph/opengl/items/GLGridItem.py
index 63a558ea..0da9f61e 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/opengl/items/GLGridItem.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/opengl/items/GLGridItem.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class GLGridItem(GLGraphicsItem):
     Displays a wire-frame grid. 
     """
     
-    def __init__(self, size=None, color=None, antialias=True, glOptions='translucent'):
+    def __init__(self, size=None, color=(1, 1, 1, .3), antialias=True, glOptions='translucent'):
         GLGraphicsItem.__init__(self)
         self.setGLOptions(glOptions)
         self.antialias = antialias
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class GLGridItem(GLGraphicsItem):
             size = QtGui.QVector3D(20,20,1)
         self.setSize(size=size)
         self.setSpacing(1, 1, 1)
+        self.color = color
     
     def setSize(self, x=None, y=None, z=None, size=None):
         """
@@ -66,8 +67,8 @@ class GLGridItem(GLGraphicsItem):
         x,y,z = self.size()
         xs,ys,zs = self.spacing()
         xvals = np.arange(-x/2., x/2. + xs*0.001, xs) 
-        yvals = np.arange(-y/2., y/2. + ys*0.001, ys) 
-        glColor4f(1, 1, 1, .3)
+        yvals = np.arange(-y/2., y/2. + ys*0.001, ys)
+        glColor4f(*self.color)
         for x in xvals:
             glVertex3f(x, yvals[0], 0)
             glVertex3f(x,  yvals[-1], 0)