diff --git a/tests/testthat/test_theme.R b/tests/testthat/test_theme.R
index 720f8a7..76e3fd0 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test_theme.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test_theme.R
@@ -133,8 +133,13 @@ test_that("theme_civilytics uses brand ink color for text", {
   expect_equal(th$text$colour, unname(civilytics_colors["ink"]))
 })
 
-test_that("theme_civilytics uses brand paper color for plot background", {
+test_that("theme_civilytics has transparent background by default", {
   th <- theme_civilytics()
+  expect_true(is.na(th$plot.background$fill))
+})
+
+test_that("theme_civilytics uses brand paper color when paper_bg = TRUE", {
+  th <- theme_civilytics(paper_bg = TRUE)
   expect_equal(th$plot.background$fill, unname(civilytics_colors["paper"]))
 })