diff --git a/React/Base/RCTRootView.m b/React/Base/RCTRootView.m
index 23100f5e2..e9a8170eb 100644
--- a/React/Base/RCTRootView.m
+++ b/React/Base/RCTRootView.m
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
   RCTBridge *_bridge;
   NSString *_moduleName;
   NSDictionary *_launchOptions;
-  UIColor *_backgroundColor;
   RCTRootContentView *_contentView;
 }
 
@@ -90,15 +89,10 @@
 
 - (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)backgroundColor
 {
-  _backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  super.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
   _contentView.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
 }
 
-- (UIColor *)backgroundColor
-{
-  return _backgroundColor;
-}
-
 - (UIViewController *)backingViewController
 {
   return _backingViewController ?: [super backingViewController];
@@ -135,7 +129,7 @@ RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
     [_contentView removeFromSuperview];
     _contentView = [[RCTRootContentView alloc] initWithFrame:self.bounds
                                                       bridge:bridge];
-    _contentView.backgroundColor = _backgroundColor;
+    _contentView.backgroundColor = self.backgroundColor;
     [self addSubview:_contentView];
 
     NSString *moduleName = _moduleName ?: @"";
@@ -184,6 +178,7 @@ RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
 {
   __weak RCTBridge *_bridge;
   RCTTouchHandler *_touchHandler;
+  UIColor *_backgroundColor;
 }
 
 - (instancetype)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame
@@ -193,6 +188,7 @@ RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
     _bridge = bridge;
     [self setUp];
     self.frame = frame;
+    self.layer.backgroundColor = NULL;
   }
   return self;
 }
@@ -207,12 +203,17 @@ RCT_IMPORT_METHOD(ReactNative, unmountComponentAtNodeAndRemoveContainer)
 
 - (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)backgroundColor
 {
-  super.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  _backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
   if (self.reactTag && _bridge.isValid) {
     [_bridge.uiManager setBackgroundColor:backgroundColor forRootView:self];
   }
 }
 
+- (UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  return _backgroundColor;
+}
+
 - (void)setUp
 {
   /**