diff --git a/src/tt.go b/src/tt.go
index aba3ada..a36aa08 100644
--- a/src/tt.go
+++ b/src/tt.go
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func createDefaultTyper(scr tcell.Screen) *typer {
 		tcell.ColorMaroon)
 }
 
-func createTyper(scr tcell.Screen, bold bool, themeName string) *typer {
+func createTyper(scr tcell.Screen, bold bool, themeName string, transparentBg bool) *typer {
 	var theme map[string]string
 
 	if b := readResource("themes", themeName); b == nil {
@@ -139,8 +139,12 @@ func createTyper(scr tcell.Screen, bold bool, themeName string) *typer {
 	var bgcol, fgcol, hicol, hicol2, hicol3, errcol tcell.Color
 	var err error
 
-	if bgcol, err = newTcellColor(theme["bgcol"]); err != nil {
-		die("bgcol is not defined and/or a valid hex colour.")
+	if transparentBg {
+		bgcol = tcell.ColorDefault
+	} else {
+		if bgcol, err = newTcellColor(theme["bgcol"]); err != nil {
+			die("bgcol is not defined and/or a valid hex colour.")
+		}
 	}
 	if fgcol, err = newTcellColor(theme["fgcol"]); err != nil {
 		die("fgcol is not defined and/or a valid hex colour.")
@@ -186,6 +190,7 @@ Aesthetics
     -notheme            Attempt to use the default terminal theme. 
                         This may produce odd results depending 
                         on the theme colours.
+    -transparent        Uses a transparent background.
     -blockcursor        Use the default cursor style.
     -bold               Embolden typed text.
                         ignored if -raw is present.
@@ -241,6 +246,7 @@ func main() {
 	var noBackspace bool
 	var noReport bool
 	var noTheme bool
+	var transparentBg bool
 	var normalCursor bool
 	var timeout int
 	var startParagraph int
@@ -275,6 +281,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.BoolVar(&normalCursor, "blockcursor", false, "")
 	flag.BoolVar(&noBackspace, "nobackspace", false, "")
 	flag.BoolVar(&noTheme, "notheme", false, "")
+	flag.BoolVar(&transparentBg, "transparent", false, "")
 	flag.BoolVar(&oneShotMode, "oneshot", false, "")
 	flag.BoolVar(&noHighlight, "nohighlight", false, "")
 	flag.BoolVar(&noHighlightCurrent, "highlight2", false, "")
@@ -365,7 +372,7 @@ func main() {
 	if noTheme {
 		typer = createDefaultTyper(scr)
 	} else {
-		typer = createTyper(scr, boldFlag, themeName)
+		typer = createTyper(scr, boldFlag, themeName, transparentBg)
 	}
 
 	if noHighlightNext || noHighlight {
@@ -383,7 +390,7 @@ func main() {
 	typer.ShowWpm = showWpm
 
 	if timeout != -1 {
-		timeout *= 1E9
+		timeout *= 1e9
 	}
 
 	var tests [][]segment
@@ -415,7 +422,7 @@ func main() {
 				idx--
 			}
 		case TyperComplete:
-			cpm := int(float64(ncorrect) / (float64(t) / 60E9))
+			cpm := int(float64(ncorrect) / (float64(t) / 60e9))
 			wpm := cpm / 5
 			accuracy := float64(ncorrect) / float64(nerrs+ncorrect) * 100