diff --git a/src/common/console/c_console.cpp b/src/common/console/c_console.cpp
index f259a4bf24..bcbdfdfdb4 100644
--- a/src/common/console/c_console.cpp
+++ b/src/common/console/c_console.cpp
@@ -212,14 +212,14 @@ CUSTOM_CVAR (Int, msgmidcolor2, CR_BROWN, CVAR_ARCHIVE)
 	setmsgcolor (PRINTLEVELS+1, self);
 }
 
-void C_InitConback(FTextureID fallback, bool tile)
+void C_InitConback(FTextureID fallback, bool tile, double brightness)
 {
 	conback = TexMan.CheckForTexture ("CONBACK", ETextureType::MiscPatch);
 	conflat = fallback;
 	if (!conback.isValid())
 	{
 		conback.SetInvalid();
-		conshade = MAKEARGB(175,0,0,0);
+		conshade = MAKEARGB(uint8_t(255 - 255*brightness),0,0,0);
 		conline = true;
 		if (!tile) conback = fallback;
 	}
@@ -616,7 +616,8 @@ void C_DrawConsole ()
 		{
 			if (conflat.isValid())
 			{
-				PalEntry pe((uint8_t(255 * con_alpha)), 64, 64, 64);
+				int conbright = 255 - APART(conshade);
+				PalEntry pe((uint8_t(255 * con_alpha)), conbright, conbright, conbright);
 				twod->AddFlatFill(0, visheight - screen->GetHeight(), screen->GetWidth(), visheight, TexMan.GetGameTexture(conflat), 1, CleanXfac, pe, STYLE_Shaded);
 			}
 			else
diff --git a/src/common/console/c_console.h b/src/common/console/c_console.h
index 0ac3408757..2d79992bf8 100644
--- a/src/common/console/c_console.h
+++ b/src/common/console/c_console.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ extern constate_e ConsoleState;
 // Initialize the console
 void C_InitConsole (int width, int height, bool ingame);
 void C_DeinitConsole ();
-void C_InitConback(FTextureID fallback, bool tile);
+void C_InitConback(FTextureID fallback, bool tile, double lightlevel = 1.);
 
 // Adjust the console for a new screen mode
 void C_NewModeAdjust (void);
diff --git a/src/d_main.cpp b/src/d_main.cpp
index a0df2ea615..1a3a544b44 100644
--- a/src/d_main.cpp
+++ b/src/d_main.cpp
@@ -3366,7 +3366,7 @@ static int D_DoomMain_Internal (void)
 		TexMan.Init([]() { StartScreen->Progress(); }, CheckForHacks);
 		PatchTextures();
 		TexAnim.Init();
-		C_InitConback(TexMan.CheckForTexture(gameinfo.BorderFlat, ETextureType::Flat), true);
+		C_InitConback(TexMan.CheckForTexture(gameinfo.BorderFlat, ETextureType::Flat), true, 0.25);
 
 		FixWideStatusBar();