diff --git a/labelImg.py b/labelImg.py
index 2bed46bd..e76b6602 100755
--- a/labelImg.py
+++ b/labelImg.py
@@ -664,6 +664,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow, WindowMixin):
         item = HashableQListWidgetItem(shape.label)
         item.setFlags(item.flags() | Qt.ItemIsUserCheckable)
         item.setCheckState(Qt.Checked)
+        item.setBackground(generateColorByText(shape.label))
         self.itemsToShapes[item] = shape
         self.shapesToItems[shape] = item
         self.labelList.addItem(item)