diff --git a/options.go b/options.go
index a1db34ad72..16dec464eb 100644
--- a/options.go
+++ b/options.go
@@ -271,6 +271,17 @@ func WithGraphemeClustering() ProgramOption {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithRequestBackground starts the program with a request to query the
+// background color of the terminal.
+//
+// This is useful if you want to know the background color of the terminal. The
+// background color will be sent to your program as a [BackgroundMsg].
+func WithRequestBackground() ProgramOption {
+	return func(p *Program) {
+		p.startupOptions |= withRequestBackgroundColor
+  }
+}
+  
 // WithColorProfile sets the color profile that the program will use. This is
 // useful when you want to force a specific color profile. By default, Bubble
 // Tea will try to detect the terminal's color profile from environment
diff --git a/tea.go b/tea.go
index 2a1494ba46..bbecdc40a2 100644
--- a/tea.go
+++ b/tea.go
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ const (
 	withColorProfile
 	withKeyboardEnhancements
 	withGraphemeClustering
+	withRequestBackgroundColor
 )
 
 // channelHandlers manages the series of channels returned by various processes.
@@ -791,6 +792,9 @@ func (p *Program) Run() (Model, error) {
 			p.execute(ansi.RequestKittyKeyboard)
 		}
 	}
+	if p.startupOptions.has(withRequestBackgroundColor) {
+		p.execute(ansi.RequestBackgroundColor)
+	}
 
 	// Start the renderer.
 	p.startRenderer()