diff --git a/src/browser/base/content/zen-styles/zen-tabs/vertical-tabs.css b/src/browser/base/content/zen-styles/zen-tabs/vertical-tabs.css
index 3148078ca..4c573c222 100644
--- a/src/browser/base/content/zen-styles/zen-tabs/vertical-tabs.css
+++ b/src/browser/base/content/zen-styles/zen-tabs/vertical-tabs.css
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
     border-bottom: 0px solid transparent !important;
 
     --tab-block-margin: 2px;
-    --tab-selected-bgcolor: light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,.7), rgba(255,255,255,.25));
+    --tab-selected-bgcolor: light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,.8), rgba(255,255,255,.25));
     grid-gap: 0 !important;
 
     &[overflow]::after,
@@ -789,7 +789,8 @@
   border-radius: var(--border-radius-medium);
 
   &:not([selected]) .tab-background {
-    background: light-dark(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1));
+    background: light-dark(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1));
+    box-shadow: none;
   }
 
   backdrop-filter: blur(10px);