diff --git a/wx/lib/buttons.py b/wx/lib/buttons.py
index 8d0ba825..2ae1aece 100644
--- a/wx/lib/buttons.py
+++ b/wx/lib/buttons.py
@@ -172,7 +172,11 @@ class GenButton(wx.Control):
         self.SetLabel(label)
         self.InheritAttributes()
         self.SetInitialSize(size)
-        self.SetBackgroundColour(wx.SystemSettings.GetColour(wx.SYS_COLOUR_BTNFACE))
+        face = wx.SystemSettings.GetColour(wx.SYS_COLOUR_BTNFACE)
+        if 'wxMac' in wx.PlatformInfo and face.alpha == 0:
+            face = wx.SystemSettings.GetColour(wx.SYS_COLOUR_3DLIGHT)
+            assert face.alpha != 0, "a different default system colour is needed!"
+        self.SetBackgroundColour(face)
 
         self.Bind(wx.EVT_LEFT_DOWN,          self.OnLeftDown)
         self.Bind(wx.EVT_LEFT_UP,            self.OnLeftUp)
diff --git a/wx/lib/colourselect.py b/wx/lib/colourselect.py
index 5b5bf0dd..2ae45bc6 100644
--- a/wx/lib/colourselect.py
+++ b/wx/lib/colourselect.py
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ class CustomColourData(object):
 
 class ColourSelect(wx.lib.buttons.GenBitmapButton):
     """
-    A subclass of :class:`wx.BitmapButton` that, when clicked, will
-    display a colour selection dialog.
+    A subclass of :class:`wx.lib.buttons.GenBitmapButton` that,
+    when clicked, will display a colour selection dialog.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, parent, id=wx.ID_ANY, label="", colour=wx.BLACK,