diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RichText.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RichText.scss
index 788955e31d..55faab8473 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RichText.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/elements/_RichText.scss
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 .mx_EventTile_content .markdown-body a.mx_UserPill,
 .mx_UserPill {
     color: $primary-fg-color;
+    background-color: $other-user-pill-bg-color;
+    padding-right: 5px;
 }
 
 .mx_EventTile_highlight .mx_EventTile_content .markdown-body a.mx_UserPill_me {
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss
index 545334d3df..6f613e38f8 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_base.scss
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ $focus-brightness: 125%;
 // red warning colour
 $warning-color: #ff0064;
 $mention-user-pill-bg-color: #ff0064;
+$other-user-pill-bg-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
 
 $preview-bar-bg-color: #f7f7f7;
 
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_dark.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_dark.scss
index fe2e7591cf..f92c89bdbe 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_dark.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/themes/_dark.scss
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ $focus-brightness: 200%;
 // red warning colour
 $warning-color: #ff0064;
 
+$other-user-pill-bg-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.15);
+
 $preview-bar-bg-color: #333;
 
 // left-panel style muted accent color