diff --git a/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsActivityFeed.tsx b/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsActivityFeed.tsx
index ba0c15b1c7..011b50a735 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsActivityFeed.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsActivityFeed.tsx
@@ -257,9 +257,10 @@ function ActivityCard({
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
-        "relative block w-full rounded-xl border border-border/60 bg-card text-left transition-colors hover:bg-muted/20",
+        "relative block w-full rounded-xl border border-border/60 bg-transparent text-left transition-colors hover:bg-muted/20",
         compact ? "p-3" : "p-4",
       )}
+      data-testid="projects-activity-card"
     >
       <button
         aria-label={`Open ${item.title} in ${item.target.project.name}`}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsOverviewPanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsOverviewPanel.tsx
index 3640af904e..b11e7d1235 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsOverviewPanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/projects/ui/ProjectsOverviewPanel.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ function StatPill({
 }) {
   return (
     <button
-      className="flex flex-col rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card px-3.5 py-3 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-muted/30"
+      className="flex flex-col rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-transparent px-3.5 py-3 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-muted/30"
+      data-testid="projects-overview-stat"
       onClick={onClick}
       type="button"
     >
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ export function ProjectsOverviewPanel({
   const stats = overviewStats(projects, summaries);
 
   return (
-    <section className="-mx-4 mb-4 bg-card">
+    <section className="-mx-4 mb-4" data-testid="projects-overview-panel">
       <div className="grid xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_18rem] 2xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_24rem]">
         <div className="order-1 grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 p-4 pt-0 sm:gap-3 xl:order-none xl:col-start-1 xl:row-start-1 xl:grid-cols-4">
           <StatPill
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/project-pr-review.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/project-pr-review.spec.ts
index 9e74846642..8113947b4c 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/project-pr-review.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/project-pr-review.spec.ts
@@ -910,6 +910,41 @@ test("project overview reports aggregate work-item failures", async ({
   );
 });
 
+test("project overview does not paint a background behind its cards", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  await enableProjectsFeature(page);
+  await installMockBridge(page);
+  await page.goto("/", { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  await page.getByTestId("open-projects-view").click();
+
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("projects-overview-panel")).toHaveCSS(
+    "background-color",
+    "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)",
+  );
+
+  const stats = page.getByTestId("projects-overview-stat");
+  await expect(stats).toHaveCount(4);
+  for (let index = 0; index < 4; index += 1) {
+    await expect(stats.nth(index)).toHaveCSS(
+      "background-color",
+      "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)",
+    );
+    await expect(stats.nth(index)).toHaveCSS("border-style", "solid");
+  }
+
+  const activityCards = page.getByTestId("projects-activity-card");
+  await expect(activityCards.first()).toBeVisible();
+  const activityCardCount = await activityCards.count();
+  for (let index = 0; index < activityCardCount; index += 1) {
+    await expect(activityCards.nth(index)).toHaveCSS(
+      "background-color",
+      "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)",
+    );
+    await expect(activityCards.nth(index)).toHaveCSS("border-style", "solid");
+  }
+});
+
 test("project without a checkout offers fetch feedback and dropdown cloning", async ({
   page,
 }) => {