diff --git a/backends/base-backend.cpp b/backends/base-backend.cpp
index 59d674461c1..dfb9e284ce0 100644
--- a/backends/base-backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/base-backend.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ void BaseBackend::clearOSD() {
 	//what should I do? Remove all TimedMessageDialogs?
 }
 
+Graphics::PixelFormat BaseBackend::getOSDFormat() {
+	warning("BaseBackend::getOSDFormat not implemented");
+	return Graphics::PixelFormat();
+}
+
 void BaseBackend::initBackend() {
 	// Init Event manager
 #ifndef DISABLE_DEFAULT_EVENT_MANAGER
diff --git a/backends/base-backend.h b/backends/base-backend.h
index edee427ca7e..2394edaf380 100644
--- a/backends/base-backend.h
+++ b/backends/base-backend.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void displayMessageOnOSD(const char *msg);
 	virtual void copyRectToOSD(const void *buf, int pitch, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 	virtual void clearOSD();
+	virtual Graphics::PixelFormat getOSDFormat();
 	virtual void fillScreen(uint32 col);
 };
 
diff --git a/backends/graphics/graphics.h b/backends/graphics/graphics.h
index 1063a10a9c7..921dfca61c0 100644
--- a/backends/graphics/graphics.h
+++ b/backends/graphics/graphics.h
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ public:
 	virtual void displayMessageOnOSD(const char *msg) {}
 	virtual void copyRectToOSD(const void *buf, int pitch, int x, int y, int w, int h) {}
 	virtual void clearOSD() {}
+	virtual Graphics::PixelFormat getOSDFormat() { return Graphics::PixelFormat(); }
+
 
 	// Graphics::PaletteManager interface
 	//virtual void setPalette(const byte *colors, uint start, uint num) = 0;
diff --git a/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.cpp b/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.cpp
index 97788be3ad6..c491b03f1f2 100644
--- a/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.cpp
+++ b/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.cpp
@@ -774,6 +774,8 @@ void OpenGLGraphicsManager::clearOSD() {
 #endif
 }
 
+Graphics::PixelFormat OpenGLGraphicsManager::getOSDFormat() { return Graphics::PixelFormat(); } //TODO
+
 void OpenGLGraphicsManager::setPalette(const byte *colors, uint start, uint num) {
 	assert(_gameScreen->hasPalette());
 
diff --git a/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.h b/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.h
index f36d5d17f2c..55d2c5c8260 100644
--- a/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.h
+++ b/backends/graphics/opengl/opengl-graphics.h
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void displayMessageOnOSD(const char *msg);
 	virtual void copyRectToOSD(const void *buf, int pitch, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 	virtual void clearOSD();
+	virtual Graphics::PixelFormat getOSDFormat();
 
 	// PaletteManager interface
 	virtual void setPalette(const byte *colors, uint start, uint num);
diff --git a/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.cpp b/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.cpp
index 4a33890f42e..85e39839cbc 100644
--- a/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.cpp
+++ b/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.cpp
@@ -883,13 +883,26 @@ bool SurfaceSdlGraphicsManager::loadGFXMode() {
 	_osdSurface = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(SDL_SWSURFACE | SDL_RLEACCEL | SDL_SRCCOLORKEY | SDL_SRCALPHA,
 						_hwscreen->w,
 						_hwscreen->h,
-						16,
-						_hwscreen->format->Rmask,
-						_hwscreen->format->Gmask,
-						_hwscreen->format->Bmask,
-						_hwscreen->format->Amask);
+						32,
+						0xFF000000,
+						0x00FF0000,
+						0x0000FF00,
+						0x000000FF
+	);
 	if (_osdSurface == NULL)
 		error("allocating _osdSurface failed");
+
+	_osdFormat.bytesPerPixel = _osdSurface->format->BytesPerPixel;
+
+	_osdFormat.rLoss = _osdSurface->format->Rloss;
+	_osdFormat.gLoss = _osdSurface->format->Gloss;
+	_osdFormat.bLoss = _osdSurface->format->Bloss;
+	_osdFormat.aLoss = _osdSurface->format->Aloss;
+
+	_osdFormat.rShift = _osdSurface->format->Rshift;
+	_osdFormat.gShift = _osdSurface->format->Gshift;
+	_osdFormat.bShift = _osdSurface->format->Bshift;
+	_osdFormat.aShift = _osdSurface->format->Ashift;
 	SDL_SetColorKey(_osdSurface, SDL_RLEACCEL | SDL_SRCCOLORKEY | SDL_SRCALPHA, kOSDColorKey);
 #endif
 
@@ -2277,6 +2290,10 @@ void SurfaceSdlGraphicsManager::clearOSD() {
 	// Ensure a full redraw takes place next time the screen is updated
 	_forceFull = true;
 }
+
+Graphics::PixelFormat SurfaceSdlGraphicsManager::getOSDFormat() {
+	return _osdFormat;
+}
 #endif
 
 bool SurfaceSdlGraphicsManager::handleScalerHotkeys(Common::KeyCode key) {
diff --git a/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.h b/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.h
index 01974cf6ab2..ff721ea6fc7 100644
--- a/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.h
+++ b/backends/graphics/surfacesdl/surfacesdl-graphics.h
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void displayMessageOnOSD(const char *msg);
 	virtual void copyRectToOSD(const void *buf, int pitch, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 	virtual void clearOSD();
+	virtual Graphics::PixelFormat getOSDFormat();	
 #endif
 
 	// Override from Common::EventObserver
@@ -175,6 +176,8 @@ protected:
 		kOSDColorKey = 1,				/** < Transparent color key */
 		kOSDInitialAlpha = 80			/** < Initial alpha level, in percent */
 	};
+	/** OSD pixel format */
+	Graphics::PixelFormat _osdFormat;
 #endif
 
 	/** Hardware screen */
diff --git a/backends/modular-backend.cpp b/backends/modular-backend.cpp
index 6ad80ecbb3c..e1bdf155710 100644
--- a/backends/modular-backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/modular-backend.cpp
@@ -249,6 +249,10 @@ void ModularBackend::clearOSD() {
 	_graphicsManager->clearOSD();
 }
 
+Graphics::PixelFormat ModularBackend::getOSDFormat() {
+	return _graphicsManager->getOSDFormat();
+}
+
 void ModularBackend::quit() {
 	exit(0);
 }
diff --git a/backends/modular-backend.h b/backends/modular-backend.h
index 06c69b55add..9cde27915f7 100644
--- a/backends/modular-backend.h
+++ b/backends/modular-backend.h
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void displayMessageOnOSD(const char *msg);
 	virtual void copyRectToOSD(const void *buf, int pitch, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 	virtual void clearOSD();
+	virtual Graphics::PixelFormat getOSDFormat();
 
 	//@}
 
diff --git a/common/system.h b/common/system.h
index 6071e4582ba..3cbeee7d825 100644
--- a/common/system.h
+++ b/common/system.h
@@ -1118,6 +1118,12 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void clearOSD() = 0;
 
+	/**
+	* Returns 'on screen display' pixel format.
+	*/
+
+	virtual Graphics::PixelFormat getOSDFormat() = 0;
+
 	/**
 	 * Return the SaveFileManager, used to store and load savestates
 	 * and other modifiable persistent game data. For more information,