diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/backlogs/app/show_main.js b/app/assets/javascripts/backlogs/app/show_main.js
index 9c128a9750..27f7de2a19 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/backlogs/app/show_main.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/backlogs/app/show_main.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ jQuery(function ($) {
   $('#assigned_to_id_options').change(function () {
     var selected = $(this).children(':selected');
     if (!defaultDialogColor) {
-      defaultDialogColor = $('#rb .task').css('background-color');
+      // fetch the color from the task rendered as a prototype/template for new tasks
+      defaultDialogColor = $('#issue_').css('background-color');
     }
     $(this).parents('.ui-dialog').css('background-color', selected.attr('color') || defaultDialogColor);
   });