diff --git a/lib/gcli/ui/inputter.js b/lib/gcli/ui/inputter.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/gcli/ui/inputter.js
+++ b/lib/gcli/ui/inputter.js
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ function Completer(options) {
             this.elementCreated = true;
             this.element = dom.createElement('div', null, this.doc);
             this.element.className = 'gcliCompletion VALID';
+            this.element.tabindex = '-1';
         }
     }
 
@@ -295,10 +296,14 @@ Completer.prototype.decorate = function(inputter) {
         Completer.copyStyles.forEach(function(style) {
             this.element.style[style] = dom.computedStyle(this.input, style);
         }, this);
+
+        // If there is a separate backgroundElement, then we make the element
+        // transparent, otherwise it inherits the color of the input node
         // It's not clear why backgroundColor doesn't work when used from
         // computedStyle, but it doesn't. Patches welcome!
-        this.element.style.backgroundColor = this.input.style.backgroundColor;
-
+        this.element.style.backgroundColor = (this.backgroundElement != this.element) ?
+              'transparent' :
+              this.input.style.backgroundColor;
         this.input.style.backgroundColor = 'transparent';
 
         // Make room for the prompt
ensure completion node is not focusable with TAB