diff --git a/src/display.rs b/src/display.rs
index 26fa5c6..b151936 100644
--- a/src/display.rs
+++ b/src/display.rs
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ impl MPDDisplay {
                     w: filename_dimensions.w,
                     h: filename_dimensions.h,
                 },
-                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, 160),
+                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, self.opts.text_bg_opacity),
             )?;
         }
         if !self.opts.disable_show_album {
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ impl MPDDisplay {
                     w: album_dimensions.w,
                     h: album_dimensions.h,
                 },
-                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, 160),
+                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, self.opts.text_bg_opacity),
             )?;
         }
         if !self.opts.disable_show_artist {
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ impl MPDDisplay {
                     w: artist_dimensions.w,
                     h: artist_dimensions.h,
                 },
-                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, 160),
+                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, self.opts.text_bg_opacity),
             )?;
         }
         if !self.opts.disable_show_title {
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ impl MPDDisplay {
                     w: title_dimensions.w,
                     h: title_dimensions.h,
                 },
-                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, 160),
+                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, self.opts.text_bg_opacity),
             )?;
         }
         let mesh: Mesh = mesh_builder
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ impl MPDDisplay {
                     w: timer_dimensions.w,
                     h: timer_dimensions.h,
                 },
-                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, 160),
+                Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 0, self.opts.text_bg_opacity),
             )?
             .build(ctx)?;
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 9737fa6..51f0201 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@ pub struct Opt {
         case_insensitive = true,
     )]
     log_level: debug_log::LogLevel,
+    #[structopt(
+        short,
+        long,
+        help = "sets the opacity of the text background (0-255)",
+        default_value = "190"
+    )]
+    text_bg_opacity: u8,
 }
 
 fn main() -> Result<(), String> {