diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTAppDelegate.mm b/packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTAppDelegate.mm
index 136735e6edf4e4..718f8ca5f8325f 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTAppDelegate.mm
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/AppDelegate/RCTAppDelegate.mm
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(
         sizeMeasureMode:RCTSurfaceSizeMeasureModeWidthExact | RCTSurfaceSizeMeasureModeHeightExact];
 
     rootView = (RCTRootView *)surfaceHostingProxyRootView;
+    rootView.backgroundColor = [UIColor systemBackgroundColor];
   } else {
     if (!self.bridge) {
       self.bridge = [self createBridgeWithDelegate:self launchOptions:launchOptions];