diff --git a/js/id/ui/background.js b/js/id/ui/background.js
index 2c277a299..e268ad9ad 100644
--- a/js/id/ui/background.js
+++ b/js/id/ui/background.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ iD.ui.Background = function(context) {
             ['top', [0, -1]],
             ['right', [-1, 0]],
             ['bottom', [0, 1]]],
-        opacityDefault = (context.storage('background-opacity') !== undefined) ?
+        opacityDefault = (context.storage('background-opacity') !== null) ?
             (+context.storage('background-opacity')) : 0.5;
 
     function background(selection) {