diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCollectionNode.mm b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCollectionNode.mm
index d33ef7bb0d..605f0defaa 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCollectionNode.mm
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASCollectionNode.mm
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 @interface _ASCollectionPendingState : NSObject
 @property (weak, nonatomic) id <ASCollectionDelegate>   delegate;
 @property (weak, nonatomic) id <ASCollectionDataSource> dataSource;
+
+// If the background color is applied via the pending state it's applied to the layer of the UICollectionView.
+// Unfortunately UICollectionView does not consider using the layer backgroundColor property as it's background color,
+// so it needs to be applied to the view after the ASCollectionNode did load and the view is available
+@property (strong, nonatomic) UIColor *backgroundColor;
 @end
 
 @implementation _ASCollectionPendingState
@@ -162,6 +167,25 @@
   }
 }
 
+- (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  if ([self pendingState]) {
+    _pendingState.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  } else {
+    ASDisplayNodeAssert([self isNodeLoaded], @"ASTableNode should be loaded if pendingState doesn't exist");
+    self.view.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  }
+}
+
+- (UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  if ([self pendingState]) {
+    return _pendingState.backgroundColor;
+  } else {
+    return self.view.backgroundColor;
+  }
+}
+
 - (ASCollectionView *)view
 {
   return (ASCollectionView *)[super view];
diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASTableNode.m b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASTableNode.m
index 366209bf15..9906acb5c4 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASTableNode.m
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASTableNode.m
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@
 @interface _ASTablePendingState : NSObject
 @property (weak, nonatomic) id <ASTableDelegate>   delegate;
 @property (weak, nonatomic) id <ASTableDataSource> dataSource;
+
+// If the background color is applied via the pending state it's applied to the layer of the UITableView.
+// Unfortunately UITableView does not consider using the layer backgroundColor property as it's background color,
+// so it needs to be applied to the view after the ASTableNode did load and the view is available
+@property (strong, nonatomic) UIColor *backgroundColor;
 @end
 
 @implementation _ASTablePendingState
@@ -68,12 +73,13 @@
   
   ASTableView *view = self.view;
   view.tableNode    = self;
-  
+
   if (_pendingState) {
     _ASTablePendingState *pendingState = _pendingState;
     self.pendingState    = nil;
     view.asyncDelegate   = pendingState.delegate;
     view.asyncDataSource = pendingState.dataSource;
+    view.backgroundColor = pendingState.backgroundColor;
   }
 }
 
@@ -133,6 +139,25 @@
   }
 }
 
+- (void)setBackgroundColor:(UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  if ([self pendingState]) {
+    _pendingState.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  } else {
+    ASDisplayNodeAssert([self isNodeLoaded], @"ASTableNode should be loaded if pendingState doesn't exist");
+    self.view.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+  }
+}
+
+- (UIColor *)backgroundColor
+{
+  if ([self pendingState]) {
+    return _pendingState.backgroundColor;
+  } else {
+    return self.view.backgroundColor;
+  }
+}
+
 - (ASTableView *)view
 {
   return (ASTableView *)[super view];