diff --git a/src/share/classes/javax/swing/plaf/metal/MetalTabbedPaneUI.java b/src/share/classes/javax/swing/plaf/metal/MetalTabbedPaneUI.java
index 9d34a4dd593ad7b1cf6d324f6295ad8015baec5f..727120ca09055860aefc79dec899b182adc205d8 100644
--- a/src/share/classes/javax/swing/plaf/metal/MetalTabbedPaneUI.java
+++ b/src/share/classes/javax/swing/plaf/metal/MetalTabbedPaneUI.java
@@ -806,11 +806,12 @@ public class MetalTabbedPaneUI extends BasicTabbedPaneUI {
 
         // Paint the background for the tab area
         if ( tabPane.isOpaque() ) {
-            if (!c.isBackgroundSet() && (tabAreaBackground != null)) {
+            Color background = c.getBackground();
+            if (background instanceof UIResource && tabAreaBackground != null) {
                 g.setColor(tabAreaBackground);
             }
             else {
-                g.setColor( c.getBackground() );
+                g.setColor(background);
             }
             switch ( tabPlacement ) {
             case LEFT:
diff --git a/test/javax/swing/JTabbedPane/8007563/Test8007563.java b/test/javax/swing/JTabbedPane/8007563/Test8007563.java
index 5f73173df341a2b116b1f2469e1cea5050c92d31..aa2307df050e4f89cc30071109f631484fd99f82 100644
--- a/test/javax/swing/JTabbedPane/8007563/Test8007563.java
+++ b/test/javax/swing/JTabbedPane/8007563/Test8007563.java
@@ -21,9 +21,7 @@
  * questions.
  */
 
-import java.awt.Color;
-import java.awt.Point;
-import java.awt.Robot;
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
 import javax.swing.JFrame;
@@ -119,6 +117,20 @@ public class Test8007563 implements Runnable {
             }
 
         }
-        invokeLater(this);
+        SecondaryLoop secondaryLoop =
+                Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getSystemEventQueue()
+                        .createSecondaryLoop();
+        new Thread() {
+            @Override
+            public void run() {
+                try {
+                    Thread.sleep(200);
+                } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+                }
+                secondaryLoop.exit();
+                invokeLater(Test8007563.this);
+            }
+        }.start();
+        secondaryLoop.enter();
     }
 }