diff --git a/components/MenuButton.qml b/components/MenuButton.qml
index 01e31be8..cd57ea9e 100644
--- a/components/MenuButton.qml
+++ b/components/MenuButton.qml
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ Rectangle {
     height: present ? ((appWindow.height >= 800) ? 44  : 38 ) : 0
 
     LinearGradient {
-        visible: isOpenGL && button.checked
+        visible: isOpenGL && (button.checked || buttonArea.containsMouse)
         height: parent.height
         width: 260
         anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
@@ -75,13 +75,15 @@ Rectangle {
             GradientStop { position: 0.0; color: MoneroComponents.Style.menuButtonGradientStart }
             GradientStop { position: 1.0; color: MoneroComponents.Style.menuButtonGradientStop }
         }
+        opacity: button.checked ? 1 : 0.3
     }
 
     // fallback hover effect when opengl is not available
     Rectangle {
-        visible: !isOpenGL && button.checked
+        visible: !isOpenGL && (button.checked || buttonArea.containsMouse)
         anchors.fill: parent
         color: MoneroComponents.Style.menuButtonFallbackBackgroundColor
+        opacity: button.checked ? 1 : 0.3
     }
 
     // button decorations that are subject to leftMargin offsets