diff --git a/ui/bubble.css b/ui/bubble.css
index 50f270f..aca81e4 100644
--- a/ui/bubble.css
+++ b/ui/bubble.css
@@ -1,21 +1,27 @@
 /* Bubble palette. Accent and fill colours come from the payload. */
 :root[data-theme='dark'] {
-  /* 60% opaque, so the desktop shows through; text and bars stay solid. */
+  /* 60% opaque, so the desktop shows through. Tracks and the edge are
+     tints over it, so they keep the same contrast step on a light or dark
+     desktop; the text halo keeps text readable on either. */
   --bg: rgb(31 31 31 / 60%);
-  --track: #2c2c2c;
-  --time-track: #404040;
+  --track: rgb(0 0 0 / 28%);
+  --time-track: rgb(255 255 255 / 14%);
   --time-fill: #b0b0b0;
+  --edge: rgb(255 255 255 / 22%);
   --text: #eaeaea;
-  --muted: #a8a8a8;
+  --muted: #c4c4c4;
+  --halo: 0 0 2px rgb(0 0 0 / 75%);
 }
 
 :root[data-theme='light'] {
   --bg: rgb(243 243 243 / 60%);
-  --track: #e2e2e2;
-  --time-track: #e0e0e0;
+  --track: rgb(0 0 0 / 10%);
+  --time-track: rgb(0 0 0 / 8%);
   --time-fill: #666666;
+  --edge: rgb(0 0 0 / 18%);
   --text: #1f1f1f;
-  --muted: #5e5e5e;
+  --muted: #4a4a4a;
+  --halo: 0 0 2px rgb(255 255 255 / 85%);
 }
 
 html,
@@ -56,10 +62,15 @@ body {
   height: 100%;
 }
 
-.rings circle {
+.rings circle,
+.edge {
   fill: none;
 }
 
+.edge {
+  stroke: var(--edge);
+}
+
 .ring-track {
   stroke: var(--track);
 }
@@ -82,6 +93,7 @@ body {
   margin: 0;
   white-space: nowrap;
   color: var(--text);
+  text-shadow: var(--halo);
 }
 
 .head-label {
diff --git a/ui/bubble.html b/ui/bubble.html
index b459ce8..0a17135 100644
--- a/ui/bubble.html
+++ b/ui/bubble.html
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   <body>
     <div class="pill" id="pill">
       <svg class="rings" id="rings" aria-hidden="true">
+        <path class="edge" id="edge"></path>
         <circle class="ring-track" id="ring-track"></circle>
         <circle class="ring-arc" id="ring-arc"></circle>
         <circle class="time-ring-track" id="time-ring-track"></circle>
diff --git a/ui/bubble.js b/ui/bubble.js
index a076db5..e11b820 100644
--- a/ui/bubble.js
+++ b/ui/bubble.js
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ const FONT_STACK = '"Segoe UI", system-ui, sans-serif';
 /** Weight text is measured at when the caller names none (regular). */
 const MEASURE_WEIGHT = 400;
 const HEAD_LABEL_WEIGHT = 600;
+/** Outline stroke in CSS px; the clip keeps the inner half. */
+const EDGE_STROKE = 2;
 
 const slug = windowLabel.replace(/^bubble-/, '');
 
@@ -80,6 +82,8 @@ function byId(id) {
 const pill = byId('pill');
 /** @type {SVGSVGElement} */
 const rings = byId('rings');
+/** @type {SVGPathElement} */
+const edge = byId('edge');
 /** @type {SVGCircleElement} */
 const ringTrack = byId('ring-track');
 /** @type {SVGCircleElement} */
@@ -221,6 +225,9 @@ function relayout(p) {
   const outline = outlinePath(cssPx(p.canvasW, p.dpi), cssPx(p.canvasH, p.dpi));
   pill.style.clipPath = `path('${outline}')`;
   rings.setAttribute('viewBox', `0 0 ${p.canvasW} ${p.canvasH}`);
+  // Half the stroke falls outside the clip, leaving a 1 px edge.
+  edge.setAttribute('d', outlinePath(p.canvasW, p.canvasH));
+  edge.setAttribute('stroke-width', String((EDGE_STROKE * p.dpi) / BASE_DPI));
   placeCircle(ringTrack, head.ringCx, head.ringCy, head.ringRadius, head.ringStroke);
   placeCircle(ringArc, head.ringCx, head.ringCy, head.ringRadius, head.ringStroke);
   placeCircle(timeRingTrack, head.ringCx, head.ringCy, head.timeRingRadius, head.timeRingStroke);