diff --git a/res/layout-long/twelve_key_dialer.xml b/res/layout-long/twelve_key_dialer.xml
index bd90df4..2580625 100644
--- a/res/layout-long/twelve_key_dialer.xml
+++ b/res/layout-long/twelve_key_dialer.xml
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@
      limitations under the License.
 -->
 
+<!-- TODO (stopship) We don't want to specify a background color here. For now we just
+keep it because otherwise the dialer needs some imagination to use (white on white) -->
 <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:id="@+id/top"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
     android:orientation="vertical"
+    android:background="@android:color/black"
 >
 
     <!-- Text field above the keypad where the digits are displayed.
diff --git a/res/layout/twelve_key_dialer.xml b/res/layout/twelve_key_dialer.xml
index d4c9d8f..2cae9ae 100644
--- a/res/layout/twelve_key_dialer.xml
+++ b/res/layout/twelve_key_dialer.xml
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@
      limitations under the License.
 -->
 
+<!-- TODO (stopship) We don't want to specify a background color here. For now we just
+keep it because otherwise the dialer needs some imagination to use (white on white) -->
 <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:id="@+id/top"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
     android:orientation="vertical"
+    android:background="@android:color/black"
 >
 
     <!-- Text field above the keypad where the digits are displayed.
diff --git a/res/values-xlarge/styles.xml b/res/values-xlarge/styles.xml
index e601590..6f6b334 100644
--- a/res/values-xlarge/styles.xml
+++ b/res/values-xlarge/styles.xml
@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@
         <item name="list_item_header_text_size">14sp</item>
     </style>
 
-    <style name="ContactsPreferencesTheme" parent="@android:Theme.Holo.Light">
-    </style>
-
     <style name="CustomContactListFilterTheme" parent="@android:Theme.Holo.Light.Dialog">
     </style>
 
diff --git a/res/values/styles.xml b/res/values/styles.xml
index b8e9874..6c1bb45 100644
--- a/res/values/styles.xml
+++ b/res/values/styles.xml
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
      limitations under the License.
 -->
 <resources>
-    <style name="DialtactsTheme" parent="@android:Theme">
+    <style name="DialtactsTheme" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Light">
         <item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
         <item name="android:windowContentOverlay">@null</item>
     </style>
 
-    <style name="CallDetailActivityTheme" parent="android:Theme.NoTitleBar">
+    <style name="CallDetailActivityTheme" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Light">
         <item name="android:windowContentOverlay">@null</item>
     </style>
     <style name="ContactDetailActivityTheme" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Light">
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
     <style name="JoinContactActivityTheme" parent="ContactPickerTheme" >
     </style>
 
-    <style name="ContactsPreferencesTheme" parent="@android:Theme">
+    <style name="ContactsPreferencesTheme" parent="@android:Theme.Holo.Light">
     </style>
 
     <style name="CustomContactListFilterTheme" parent="@android:Theme">