diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/ColorDelegator.py b/Lib/idlelib/ColorDelegator.py
index 424755f02844..729dec034820 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/ColorDelegator.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/ColorDelegator.py
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ def LoadTagDefs(self):
             "DEFINITION": idleConf.GetHighlight(theme, "definition"),
             "SYNC": {'background':None,'foreground':None},
             "TODO": {'background':None,'foreground':None},
-            "BREAK": idleConf.GetHighlight(theme, "break"),
             "ERROR": idleConf.GetHighlight(theme, "error"),
             # The following is used by ReplaceDialog:
             "hit": idleConf.GetHighlight(theme, "hit"),
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
index c23b62abd9bc..865692743a3a 100755
--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ def filename_changed_hook(old_hook=self.io.filename_change_hook,
         self.io.set_filename_change_hook(filename_changed_hook)
         if self.io.filename:
             self.restore_file_breaks()
+        self.color_breakpoint_text()
 
     rmenu_specs = [
         ("Cut", "<<cut>>", "rmenu_check_cut"),
@@ -148,6 +149,15 @@ def filename_changed_hook(old_hook=self.io.filename_change_hook,
         ("Clear Breakpoint", "<<clear-breakpoint-here>>", None)
     ]
 
+    def color_breakpoint_text(self, color=True):
+        "Turn colorizing of breakpoint text on or off"
+        if color:
+            theme = idleConf.GetOption('main','Theme','name')
+            cfg = idleConf.GetHighlight(theme, "break")
+        else:
+            cfg = {'foreground': '', 'background': ''}
+        self.text.tag_config('BREAK', cfg)
+
     def set_breakpoint(self, lineno):
         text = self.text
         filename = self.io.filename