diff --git a/README.mkd b/README.mkd
index 810cf2d..350cebe 100644
--- a/README.mkd
+++ b/README.mkd
@@ -316,13 +316,15 @@ let g:gitgutter_sign_allow_clobber = 1
 
 #### Signs' colours and symbols
 
-If you or your colourscheme has defined `GitGutter*` highlight groups, the plugin will use those for the signs' colours.
+If you or your colourscheme has defined `GitGutter*` highlight groups, the plugin will use them for the signs' colours.
 
-Otherwise it will use your colourscheme's `Diff*` highlight groups.
+If you want the background colours to match the sign column, but don't want to update the `GitGutter*` groups yourself, you can get the plugin to do it:
 
-Either way the signs' background colours will be set to the sign column's background colour.
+```viml
+let g:gitgutter_set_sign_backgrounds = 1
+```
 
-If you don't like the colours, specify the ones you want in your vimrc (see `:help highlight-guifg` and `:help highlight-ctermfg`).  For example, to get vim-gitgutter's original colours (based on git-diff's colours in my terminal):
+If no `GitGutter*` highlight groups exist, the plugin will check the `Diff*` highlight groups.  If their foreground colours differ the plugin will use them; if not, these colours will be used:
 
 ```viml
 highlight GitGutterAdd    guifg=#009900 ctermfg=2
diff --git a/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim b/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim
index b2da79c..16f8195 100644
--- a/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim
+++ b/autoload/gitgutter/highlight.vim
@@ -76,11 +76,12 @@ function! gitgutter#highlight#define_highlights() abort
   highlight default link GitGutterChangeDeleteInvisible GitGutterChangeInvisible
 
   " When they are visible.
-
-  " The background colours are set to the sign column's.
   for type in ["Add", "Change", "Delete"]
     if hlexists("GitGutter".type)
-      let [guifg, ctermfg] = s:get_foreground_colors('GitGutter'.type)
+      if g:gitgutter_set_sign_backgrounds
+        execute "highlight GitGutter".type." guibg=".guibg." ctermbg=".ctermbg
+      endif
+      continue
     elseif s:useful_diff_colours()
       let [guifg, ctermfg] = s:get_foreground_colors('Diff'.type)
     else
diff --git a/doc/gitgutter.txt b/doc/gitgutter.txt
index a5c3576..2d744a8 100644
--- a/doc/gitgutter.txt
+++ b/doc/gitgutter.txt
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ Signs:~
     |g:gitgutter_sign_removed|
     |g:gitgutter_sign_removed_first_line|
     |g:gitgutter_sign_modified_removed|
+    |g:gitgutter_set_sign_backgrounds|
 
 Hunk previews:~
 
@@ -449,12 +450,14 @@ Defaults:
 You can use unicode characters but not images.  Signs must not take up more than
 2 columns.
 
+                                              *g:gitgutter_set_sign_backgrounds*
+Default: 0
 
-  Desired appearance                  Command ~
-  Same as line-number column          highlight clear SignColumn
-  User-defined (terminal Vim)         highlight SignColumn ctermbg={whatever}
-  User-defined (graphical Vim)        highlight SignColumn guibg={whatever}
+Only applies to existing GitGutter* highlight groups.  See
+|gitgutter-highlights|.
 
+Controls whether to override the signs' background colours to match the
+|hl-SignColumn|.
 
                                              *g:gitgutter_preview_win_floating*
 Default: 0 (Vim)
@@ -526,6 +529,10 @@ To change the signs' colours, specify these highlight groups in your |vimrc|:
 
 See |highlight-guifg| and |highlight-ctermfg| for the values you can use.
 
+If you do not like the signs' background colours and you do not want to update
+the GitGutter* highlight groups yourself, you can get the plugin to do it
+|g:gitgutter_set_sign_backgrounds|.
+
 To change the line highlights, set up the following highlight groups in your
 colorscheme or |vimrc|:
 >
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index f4f48c2..a7208ea 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ if (has('nvim-0.4.0') || exists('*sign_place')) && !exists('g:gitgutter_sign_all
 endif
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_allow_clobber',          0)
 call s:obsolete('g:gitgutter_override_sign_column_highlight')
+call s:set('g:gitgutter_set_sign_backgrounds',           0)
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_added',                   '+')
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_modified',                '~')
 call s:set('g:gitgutter_sign_removed',                 '_')