diff --git a/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.cpp b/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.cpp
index 453f36c91a..58fb336294 100644
--- a/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.cpp
@@ -595,8 +595,8 @@ void PreviewLoader::Impl::startLoading()
 	cs << pconverter_->command << ' ' << pconverter_->to << ' '
 	   << quoteName(latexfile.toFilesystemEncoding()) << ' '
 	   << int(font_scaling_factor_) << ' '
-	   << theApp()->hexName(Color_preview) << ' '
-	   << theApp()->hexName(Color_background);
+	   << theApp()->hexName(PreviewLoader::foregroundColor()) << ' '
+	   << theApp()->hexName(PreviewLoader::backgroundColor());
 
 	string const command = libScriptSearch(cs.str());
 
diff --git a/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.h b/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.h
index 0227466f7d..980c757444 100644
--- a/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.h
+++ b/src/graphics/PreviewLoader.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/signal.hpp>
 
+#include "ColorCode.h"
 
 namespace lyx {
 
@@ -85,6 +86,10 @@ public:
 
 	/// Which buffer owns this loader.
 	Buffer const & buffer() const;
+	/// The background color used
+	static ColorCode backgroundColor() { return Color_background; }
+	/// The foreground color used
+	static ColorCode foregroundColor() { return Color_preview; }
 
 private:
 	/// noncopyable
diff --git a/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp b/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp
index 6c429c945a..57137db2f2 100644
--- a/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp
+++ b/src/mathed/InsetMathHull.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "insets/RenderPreview.h"
 
 #include "graphics/PreviewImage.h"
+#include "graphics/PreviewLoader.h"
 
 #include "frontends/Painter.h"
 
@@ -373,7 +374,7 @@ void InsetMathHull::metrics(MetricsInfo & mi, Dimension & dim) const
 ColorCode InsetMathHull::backgroundColor(PainterInfo const & pi) const
 {
 	if (previewState(pi.base.bv))
-		return Color_background;
+		return graphics::PreviewLoader::backgroundColor();
 	return Color_mathbg;
 }