diff --git a/mode-tree.c b/mode-tree.c
index 06001a672..afa04bd0f 100644
--- a/mode-tree.c
+++ b/mode-tree.c
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ mode_tree_draw(struct mode_tree_data *mtd)
 
 	memcpy(&gc0, &grid_default_cell, sizeof gc0);
 	memcpy(&gc, &grid_default_cell, sizeof gc);
-	style_apply(&gc, oo, "mode-style", NULL);
+	style_apply(&gc, oo, "tree-mode-selection-style", NULL);
 	memcpy(&box_gc, &grid_default_cell, sizeof box_gc);
 	style_apply(&box_gc, oo, "tree-mode-border-style", NULL);
 
diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index 61d0a2295..81f15c27c 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -1718,6 +1718,15 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	  .text = "Style of preview indicator in tree mode."
 	},
 
+	{ .name = "tree-mode-selection-style",
+	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
+	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW,
+	  .default_str = "#{E:mode-style}",
+	  .flags = OPTIONS_TABLE_IS_STYLE,
+	  .separator = ",",
+	  .text = "Style of the selected line in tree mode."
+	},
+
 	{ .name = "window-active-style",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW|OPTIONS_TABLE_PANE,
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 3e0b6a581..28edf39a0 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -5915,6 +5915,14 @@ see the
 .Sx STYLES
 section.
 .Pp
+.It Ic tree\-mode\-selection\-style Ar style
+Set the style of the selected line in tree mode.
+For how to specify
+.Ar style ,
+see the
+.Sx STYLES
+section.
+.Pp
 .It Ic window\-status\-activity\-style Ar style
 Set status line style for windows with an activity alert.
 For how to specify