diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el b/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el
index 288a48f4..9f9757dc 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ I.e. a message with the draft flag set."
   :group 'mu4e-faces)
 
 (defface mu4e-header-highlight-face
-  '((t :inherit default :weight bold :underline t))
+  '((t :inherit region :weight bold :underline t))
   "Face for the header at point."
   :group 'mu4e-faces)