diff --git a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/environment/EnvironmentCamera.java b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/environment/EnvironmentCamera.java
index 92163d398c..4966c001c9 100644
--- a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/environment/EnvironmentCamera.java
+++ b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/environment/EnvironmentCamera.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2009-2019 jMonkeyEngine
+ * Copyright (c) 2009-2021 jMonkeyEngine
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -196,6 +196,24 @@ public void render(final RenderManager renderManager) {
         jobs.remove(0);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Alter the background color of an initialized EnvironmentCamera.
+     *
+     * @param bgColor the desired color (not null, unaffected, default is the
+     * background color of the application's default viewport)
+     */
+    public void setBackGroundColor(ColorRGBA bgColor) {
+        if (!isInitialized()) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException(
+                    "The EnvironmentCamera is uninitialized.");
+        }
+
+        backGroundColor.set(bgColor);
+        for (int i = 0; i < 6; ++i) {
+            viewports[i].setBackgroundColor(bgColor);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Gets the size of environment cameras.
      *
@@ -260,7 +278,7 @@ public ViewPort[] getViewPorts(){
 
     @Override
     protected void initialize(Application app) {
-        this.backGroundColor = app.getViewPort().getBackgroundColor();
+        this.backGroundColor = app.getViewPort().getBackgroundColor().clone();
 
         final Camera[] cameras = new Camera[6];
         final Texture2D[] textures = new Texture2D[6];