diff --git a/client/systray/logo.go b/client/systray/logo.go
index a0f8bf7d0..334cd7917 100644
--- a/client/systray/logo.go
+++ b/client/systray/logo.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"image"
 	"image/color"
 	"image/png"
+	"log"
 	"runtime"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -204,12 +205,49 @@ var (
 )
 
 var (
-	bg   = color.NRGBA{0, 0, 0, 255}
-	fg   = color.NRGBA{255, 255, 255, 255}
-	gray = color.NRGBA{255, 255, 255, 102}
-	red  = color.NRGBA{229, 111, 74, 255}
+	black       = color.NRGBA{0, 0, 0, 255}
+	white       = color.NRGBA{255, 255, 255, 255}
+	darkGray    = color.NRGBA{102, 102, 102, 255}
+	lightGray   = color.NRGBA{153, 153, 153, 255}
+	red         = color.NRGBA{229, 111, 74, 255}
+	transparent = color.NRGBA{}
+
+	// default values to dark theme
+	bg   = black
+	fg   = white
+	gray = darkGray
 )
 
+// SetTheme sets the color theme of the systray icon.
+//
+// Supported themes are:
+//   - dark       - white and gray dots over black background
+//   - dark:nobg  - white and grey dots over transparent background
+//   - light      - black and gray dots over white background
+//   - light:nobg - black and grey dots over transparent background
+func SetTheme(theme string) {
+	switch theme {
+	case "dark":
+		bg = black
+		fg = white
+		gray = darkGray
+	case "dark:nobg":
+		bg = transparent
+		fg = white
+		gray = darkGray
+	case "light":
+		bg = white
+		fg = black
+		gray = lightGray
+	case "light:nobg":
+		bg = transparent
+		fg = black
+		gray = lightGray
+	default:
+		log.Printf("unknown theme: %q", theme)
+	}
+}
+
 // render returns a PNG image of the logo.
 func (logo tsLogo) render() *bytes.Buffer {
 	const borderUnits = 1
diff --git a/cmd/systray/systray.go b/cmd/systray/systray.go
index 9dc35f142..68a339782 100644
--- a/cmd/systray/systray.go
+++ b/cmd/systray/systray.go
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 var socket = flag.String("socket", paths.DefaultTailscaledSocket(), "path to tailscaled socket")
+var theme = flag.String("theme", "dark", "color theme for Tailscale icon: dark, dark:nobg, light, light:nobg")
 
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 	lc := &local.Client{Socket: *socket}
+	systray.SetTheme(*theme)
 	new(systray.Menu).Run(lc)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/tailscale/cli/configure_linux.go b/cmd/tailscale/cli/configure_linux.go
index 9ba3b8e87..da0444908 100644
--- a/cmd/tailscale/cli/configure_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/tailscale/cli/configure_linux.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func init() {
 	maybeSystrayCmd = systrayConfigCmd
 }
 
-var systrayArgs struct {
+var configSystrayArgs struct {
 	initSystem     string
 	installStartup bool
 }
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func systrayConfigCmd() *ffcli.Command {
 		Exec:       configureSystray,
 		FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
 			fs := newFlagSet("systray")
-			fs.StringVar(&systrayArgs.initSystem, "enable-startup", "",
+			fs.StringVar(&configSystrayArgs.initSystem, "enable-startup", "",
 				"Install startup script for init system. Currently supported systems are [systemd, freedesktop].")
 			return fs
 		})(),
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ func systrayConfigCmd() *ffcli.Command {
 }
 
 func configureSystray(_ context.Context, _ []string) error {
-	if systrayArgs.initSystem != "" {
-		if err := systray.InstallStartupScript(systrayArgs.initSystem); err != nil {
+	if configSystrayArgs.initSystem != "" {
+		if err := systray.InstallStartupScript(configSystrayArgs.initSystem); err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("%s\n\n", err.Error())
 			return flag.ErrHelp
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/tailscale/cli/systray.go b/cmd/tailscale/cli/systray.go
index ca0840fe9..07de5c786 100644
--- a/cmd/tailscale/cli/systray.go
+++ b/cmd/tailscale/cli/systray.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"flag"
 
 	"github.com/peterbourgon/ff/v3/ffcli"
 	"tailscale.com/client/systray"
@@ -17,10 +18,20 @@ var systrayCmd = &ffcli.Command{
 	ShortUsage: "tailscale systray",
 	ShortHelp:  "Run a systray application to manage Tailscale",
 	LongHelp:   "Run a systray application to manage Tailscale.",
-	Exec:       runSystray,
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := newFlagSet("systray")
+		fs.StringVar(&systrayArgs.theme, "theme", "dark", "color theme for Tailscale icon: dark, dark:nobg, light, light:nobg")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runSystray,
+}
+
+var systrayArgs struct {
+	theme string
 }
 
 func runSystray(ctx context.Context, _ []string) error {
+	systray.SetTheme(systrayArgs.theme)
 	new(systray.Menu).Run(&localClient)
 	return nil
 }