diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/AdapterMessage.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/AdapterMessage.java
index 59868624a4..9f95d62594 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/AdapterMessage.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/AdapterMessage.java
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ import android.graphics.Paint;
 import android.graphics.Rect;
 import android.graphics.Typeface;
 import android.graphics.drawable.AnimatedImageDrawable;
-import android.graphics.drawable.ColorDrawable;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.Build;
@@ -228,7 +227,6 @@ public class AdapterMessage extends RecyclerView.Adapter<AdapterMessage.ViewHold
     private int colorSeparator;
     private int colorError;
     private int colorControlNormal;
-    private Drawable drawableSeparator;
 
     private boolean hasWebView;
     private boolean pin;
@@ -1402,8 +1400,13 @@ public class AdapterMessage extends RecyclerView.Adapter<AdapterMessage.ViewHold
         }
 
         private void bindSeen(TupleMessageEx message) {
-            if (cards && shadow)
-                itemView.setBackground(message.unseen > 0 ? drawableSeparator : null);
+            if (cards && shadow) {
+                int color = (message.unseen > 0 ? colorSeparator : Color.TRANSPARENT);
+                if (!Objects.equals(itemView.getTag(), color)) {
+                    itemView.setTag(color);
+                    itemView.setBackgroundColor(color);
+                }
+            }
 
             if (textSize != 0) {
                 float fz_sender = (font_size_sender == null ? textSize : font_size_sender) * (message.unseen > 0 ? 1.1f : 1f);
@@ -5332,8 +5335,6 @@ public class AdapterMessage extends RecyclerView.Adapter<AdapterMessage.ViewHold
         this.colorError = Helper.resolveColor(context, R.attr.colorError);
         this.colorControlNormal = Helper.resolveColor(context, R.attr.colorControlNormal);
 
-        this.drawableSeparator = new ColorDrawable(colorSeparator);
-
         this.hasWebView = Helper.hasWebView(context);
         this.pin = ShortcutManagerCompat.isRequestPinShortcutSupported(context);
         this.contacts = Helper.hasPermission(context, Manifest.permission.READ_CONTACTS);