diff --git a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key.xml b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key.xml
index 797bc105e..112ac2636 100644
--- a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key.xml
+++ b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key.xml
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@
 -->
 
 <selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-
     <!-- Toggle keys. Use checkable/checked state. -->
-
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true"
           android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_pressed_on" />
@@ -28,11 +26,12 @@
     <item android:state_checkable="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal_off" />
 
-    <!-- Normal keys -->
+    <!-- Empty background keys. -->
+    <item android:state_empty="true"
+          android:drawable="@drawable/transparent" />
 
+    <!-- Normal keys. -->
     <item android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_pressed" />
-    <item
-          android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal" />
-
+    <item android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal" />
 </selector>
diff --git a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key3.xml b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key3.xml
index dbe82d5fd..080b1f326 100644
--- a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key3.xml
+++ b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key3.xml
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@
 -->
 
 <selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-
     <!-- Toggle keys. Use checkable/checked state. -->
-
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true"
           android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_pressed_on" />
@@ -28,8 +26,11 @@
     <item android:state_checkable="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_fulltrans_pressed" />
 
-    <!-- Normal keys -->
+    <!-- Empty background keys. -->
+    <item android:state_empty="true"
+          android:drawable="@drawable/transparent" />
 
+    <!-- Normal keys. -->
     <item android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_fulltrans_normal" />
     <item android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_fulltrans_pressed" />
diff --git a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_gingerbread.xml b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_gingerbread.xml
index 5b4399e1b..3fc253e85 100644
--- a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_gingerbread.xml
+++ b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_gingerbread.xml
@@ -15,23 +15,19 @@
 -->
 
 <selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-
     <!-- Functional keys. -->
-
     <item android:state_single="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_pressed" />
     <item android:state_single="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_normal" />
 
     <!-- Action keys. -->
-
     <item android:state_active="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_pressed" />
     <item android:state_active="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_normal" />
 
     <!-- Toggle keys. Use checkable/checked state. -->
-
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_pressed_on" />
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_pressed="true"
@@ -41,8 +37,11 @@
     <item android:state_checkable="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_normal_off" />
 
-    <!-- Normal keys. -->
+    <!-- Empty background keys. -->
+    <item android:state_empty="true"
+          android:drawable="@drawable/transparent" />
 
+    <!-- Normal keys. -->
     <item android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_light_pressed" />
     <item android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_light_normal" />
diff --git a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_ics.xml b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_ics.xml
index e893da133..0c86e163e 100644
--- a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_ics.xml
+++ b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_ics.xml
@@ -15,23 +15,19 @@
 -->
 
 <selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-
     <!-- Functional keys. -->
-
     <item android:state_single="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_pressed_holo" />
     <item android:state_single="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_normal_holo" />
 
     <!-- Action keys. -->
-
     <item android:state_active="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_pressed_holo" />
     <item android:state_active="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_active_holo" />
 
     <!-- Toggle keys. Use checkable/checked state. -->
-
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_pressed_on_holo" />
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_pressed="true"
@@ -41,8 +37,11 @@
     <item android:state_checkable="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_dark_normal_off_holo" />
 
-    <!-- Normal keys. -->
+    <!-- Empty background keys. -->
+    <item android:state_empty="true"
+          android:drawable="@drawable/transparent" />
 
+    <!-- Normal keys. -->
     <item android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_light_pressed_holo" />
     <item android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_light_normal_holo" />
diff --git a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_stone.xml b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_stone.xml
index 9bc3f18d6..70a2ad444 100644
--- a/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_stone.xml
+++ b/java/res/drawable/btn_keyboard_key_stone.xml
@@ -15,23 +15,19 @@
 -->
 
 <selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-
     <!-- Functional keys. -->
-
     <item android:state_single="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_fulltrans_pressed" />
     <item android:state_single="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal_stone" />
 
     <!-- Action keys. -->
-
     <item android:state_active="true" android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_fulltrans_pressed" />
     <item android:state_active="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal_stone" />
 
     <!-- Toggle keys. Use checkable/checked state. -->
-
     <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true"
           android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal_on_stone" />
@@ -42,8 +38,11 @@
     <item android:state_checkable="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal_off_stone" />
 
-    <!-- Normal keys. -->
+    <!-- Empty background keys. -->
+    <item android:state_empty="true"
+          android:drawable="@drawable/transparent" />
 
+    <!-- Normal keys. -->
     <item android:state_pressed="true"
           android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_fulltrans_pressed" />
     <item android:drawable="@drawable/btn_keyboard_key_normal_stone" />
diff --git a/java/res/values/attrs.xml b/java/res/values/attrs.xml
index eef9116da..5c59f5f68 100644
--- a/java/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/java/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -240,11 +240,12 @@
         <attr name="maxMoreKeysColumn" format="integer" />
         <attr name="backgroundType" format="enum">
             <!-- This should be aligned with Key.BACKGROUND_TYPE_* -->
-            <enum name="normal" value="0" />
-            <enum name="functional" value="1" />
-            <enum name="action" value="2" />
-            <enum name="stickyOff" value="3" />
-            <enum name="stickyOn" value="4" />
+            <enum name="empty" value="0" />
+            <enum name="normal" value="1" />
+            <enum name="functional" value="2" />
+            <enum name="action" value="3" />
+            <enum name="stickyOff" value="4" />
+            <enum name="stickyOn" value="5" />
         </attr>
         <!-- The key action flags. -->
         <attr name="keyActionFlags" format="integer">
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java
index 61805286d..16c79eb8e 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java
@@ -122,11 +122,12 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
 
     /** Background type that represents different key background visual than normal one. */
     public final int mBackgroundType;
-    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL = 0;
-    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_FUNCTIONAL = 1;
-    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_ACTION = 2;
-    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_STICKY_OFF = 3;
-    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_STICKY_ON = 4;
+    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_EMPTY = 0;
+    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL = 1;
+    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_FUNCTIONAL = 2;
+    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_ACTION = 3;
+    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_STICKY_OFF = 4;
+    public static final int BACKGROUND_TYPE_STICKY_ON = 5;
 
     private final int mActionFlags;
     private static final int ACTION_FLAGS_IS_REPEATABLE = 0x01;
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
     public Key(final KeyboardParams params, final MoreKeySpec moreKeySpec, final int x, final int y,
             final int width, final int height, final int labelFlags) {
         this(params, moreKeySpec.mLabel, null, moreKeySpec.mIconId, moreKeySpec.mCode,
-                moreKeySpec.mOutputText, x, y, width, height, labelFlags);
+                moreKeySpec.mOutputText, x, y, width, height, labelFlags, BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -183,12 +184,12 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
      */
     public Key(final KeyboardParams params, final String label, final String hintLabel,
             final int iconId, final int code, final String outputText, final int x, final int y,
-            final int width, final int height, final int labelFlags) {
+            final int width, final int height, final int labelFlags, final int backgroundType) {
         mHeight = height - params.mVerticalGap;
         mWidth = width - params.mHorizontalGap;
         mHintLabel = hintLabel;
         mLabelFlags = labelFlags;
-        mBackgroundType = BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL;
+        mBackgroundType = backgroundType;
         mActionFlags = 0;
         mMoreKeys = null;
         mMoreKeysColumnAndFlags = 0;
@@ -465,6 +466,7 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
 
     private static String backgroundName(final int backgroundType) {
         switch (backgroundType) {
+        case BACKGROUND_TYPE_EMPTY: return "empty";
         case BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL: return "normal";
         case BACKGROUND_TYPE_FUNCTIONAL: return "functional";
         case BACKGROUND_TYPE_ACTION: return "action";
@@ -788,6 +790,10 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
         android.R.attr.state_pressed
     };
 
+    private final static int[] KEY_STATE_EMPTY = {
+        android.R.attr.state_empty
+    };
+
     // functional normal state (with properties)
     private static final int[] KEY_STATE_FUNCTIONAL_NORMAL = {
             android.R.attr.state_single
@@ -825,6 +831,8 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
             return mPressed ? KEY_STATE_PRESSED_HIGHLIGHT_OFF : KEY_STATE_NORMAL_HIGHLIGHT_OFF;
         case BACKGROUND_TYPE_STICKY_ON:
             return mPressed ? KEY_STATE_PRESSED_HIGHLIGHT_ON : KEY_STATE_NORMAL_HIGHLIGHT_ON;
+        case BACKGROUND_TYPE_EMPTY:
+            return mPressed ? KEY_STATE_PRESSED : KEY_STATE_EMPTY;
         default: /* BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL */
             return mPressed ? KEY_STATE_PRESSED : KEY_STATE_NORMAL;
         }
@@ -842,7 +850,7 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
         protected Spacer(final KeyboardParams params, final int x, final int y, final int width,
                 final int height) {
             super(params, null, null, ICON_UNDEFINED, CODE_UNSPECIFIED,
-                    null, x, y, width, height, 0);
+                    null, x, y, width, height, 0, BACKGROUND_TYPE_EMPTY);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/MoreSuggestions.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/MoreSuggestions.java
index e97069dff..acd47450b 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/MoreSuggestions.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/MoreSuggestions.java
@@ -210,7 +210,8 @@ public final class MoreSuggestions extends Keyboard {
                 final int indexInMoreSuggestions = index + SUGGESTION_CODE_BASE;
                 final Key key = new Key(
                         params, word, info, KeyboardIconsSet.ICON_UNDEFINED, indexInMoreSuggestions,
-                        null, x, y, width, params.mDefaultRowHeight, 0);
+                        null /* outputText */, x, y, width, params.mDefaultRowHeight,
+                        0 /* labelFlags */, Key.BACKGROUND_TYPE_NORMAL);
                 params.markAsEdgeKey(key, index);
                 params.onAddKey(key);
                 final int columnNumber = params.getColumnNumber(index);