diff --git a/macosx/Controller.m b/macosx/Controller.m
index e8683a8c2..7badea8b6 100644
--- a/macosx/Controller.m
+++ b/macosx/Controller.m
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ void sleepCallBack(void * controller, io_service_t y, natural_t messageType, voi
     
     //set up status bar
     [fStatusBar setHidden: YES];
+    [fStatusBar setShowOnTiger: YES];
     
     [fTotalDLField setToolTip: NSLocalizedString(@"Total download speed", "Status Bar -> speed tooltip")];
     [fTotalULField setToolTip: NSLocalizedString(@"Total upload speed", "Status Bar -> speed tooltip")];
diff --git a/macosx/StatusBarView.h b/macosx/StatusBarView.h
index d7ef9fc9c..fcd45aaf8 100644
--- a/macosx/StatusBarView.h
+++ b/macosx/StatusBarView.h
@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@
 
 @interface StatusBarView : NSView
 {
-    NSGradient * fGradient;
+    BOOL fShow;
+    
+    CTGradient * fGradient;
 }
 
+- (void) setShowOnTiger: (BOOL) show;
+
 @end
diff --git a/macosx/StatusBarView.m b/macosx/StatusBarView.m
index 38c911347..f9cabfde8 100644
--- a/macosx/StatusBarView.m
+++ b/macosx/StatusBarView.m
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 #import "StatusBarView.h"
 #import "NSApplicationAdditions.h"
+#import "CTGradient.h"
 
 @implementation StatusBarView
 
@@ -31,12 +32,11 @@
 {
     if ((self = [super initWithFrame: rect]))
     {
-        if ([NSApp isOnLeopardOrBetter])
-        {
-            NSColor * startingColor = [NSColor colorWithCalibratedRed: 208.0/255.0 green: 208.0/255.0 blue: 208.0/255.0 alpha: 1.0];
-            NSColor * endingColor = [NSColor colorWithCalibratedRed: 233.0/255.0 green: 233.0/255.0 blue: 233.0/255.0 alpha: 1.0];
-            fGradient = [[NSGradient alloc] initWithStartingColor: startingColor endingColor: endingColor];
-        }
+        fShow = [NSApp isOnLeopardOrBetter];
+            
+        NSColor * startingColor = [NSColor colorWithCalibratedRed: 208.0/255.0 green: 208.0/255.0 blue: 208.0/255.0 alpha: 1.0];
+        NSColor * endingColor = [NSColor colorWithCalibratedRed: 233.0/255.0 green: 233.0/255.0 blue: 233.0/255.0 alpha: 1.0];
+        fGradient = [[NSGradient alloc] initWithStartingColor: startingColor endingColor: endingColor];
     }
     return self;
 }
@@ -47,14 +47,20 @@
     [super dealloc];
 }
 
+- (void) setShowOnTiger: (BOOL) show
+{
+    fShow = [NSApp isOnLeopardOrBetter] || show;
+}
+
 - (BOOL) isOpaque
 {
-    return [NSApp isOnLeopardOrBetter];
+    return fShow;
 }
 
 - (void) drawRect: (NSRect) rect
 {
-    [fGradient drawInRect: rect angle: 90];
+    if (fShow)
+        [fGradient drawInRect: rect angle: 90];
 }
 
 @end