diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 7eb0d9a4c..9bc5095dd 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -2871,7 +2871,9 @@ class Boss:
             window.refresh()
 
     def apply_new_options(self, opts: Options) -> None:
+        bg_before = get_options().background
         bg_colors_before = {w.id: w.screen.color_profile.default_bg for w in self.all_windows}
+        configured_bg_changed = bg_before != opts.background
         # Update options storage
         set_options(opts, is_wayland(), self.args.debug_rendering, self.args.debug_font_fallback)
         apply_options_update()
@@ -2908,6 +2910,12 @@ class Boss:
         for w in self.all_windows:
             if w.screen.color_profile.default_bg != bg_colors_before.get(w.id):
                 self.default_bg_changed_for(w.id)
+            elif configured_bg_changed:
+                # the application running in the window could have set the
+                # background color, so it wont change because of a config
+                # reload, but the application might still want to be notified
+                # that the user's color scheme preference has changed.
+                w.report_color_scheme_preference_if_wanted()
             w.refresh(reload_all_gpu_data=True)
         load_shader_programs.recompile_if_needed()
 
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index f6d4243b8..b77c17284 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -1393,12 +1393,16 @@ class Window:
         return self.screen.color_profile.default_bg.is_dark
 
     def on_color_scheme_preference_change(self, via_escape_code: bool = False) -> None:
-        if self.screen.color_preference_notification and not via_escape_code:
-            self.report_color_scheme_preference()
+        if not via_escape_code:
+            self.report_color_scheme_preference_if_wanted()
         self.call_watchers(self.watchers.on_color_scheme_preference_change, {
             'is_dark': self.is_dark, 'via_escape_code': via_escape_code
         })
 
+    def report_color_scheme_preference_if_wanted(self) -> None:
+        if self.screen.color_preference_notification:
+            self.report_color_scheme_preference()
+
     def report_color_scheme_preference(self) -> None:
         n = 1 if self.is_dark else 2
         self.screen.send_escape_code_to_child(ESC_CSI, f'?997;{n}n')