diff --git a/doc/api/api_changes.rst b/doc/api/api_changes.rst
index d3bc6d242834..4c207c48e0b8 100644
--- a/doc/api/api_changes.rst
+++ b/doc/api/api_changes.rst
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ original location:
   thus `colorbar.ColorbarBase.outline` is now a
   `matplotlib.patches.Polygon` object.
 
+* The rcParams `savefig.transparent` has been added to control
+  default transparency when saving figures.
+
 .. _changes_in_1_3:
 
 
diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new.rst b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
index cbc1cf242c87..5172a413498a 100644
--- a/doc/users/whats_new.rst
+++ b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
@@ -44,6 +44,15 @@ and :func:`matplotlib.dates.datestr2num`. Support is also added to the unit
 conversion interfaces :class:`matplotlib.dates.DateConverter` and
 :class:`matplotlib.units.Registry`.
 
+Configuration (rcParams)
+------------------------
+ 
+``savefig.transparent`` added
+`````````````````````````````
+Controls whether figures are saved with a transparent 
+background by default.  Previously `savefig` always defaulted
+to a non-transparent background.
+
 .. _whats-new-1-3:
 
 new in matplotlib-1.3
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
index 894303133a43..055b412ae184 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
@@ -1414,7 +1414,7 @@ def savefig(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         kwargs.setdefault('dpi', rcParams['savefig.dpi'])
         frameon = kwargs.pop('frameon', rcParams['savefig.frameon'])
-        transparent = kwargs.pop('transparent', False)
+        transparent = kwargs.pop('transparent', rcParams['savefig.transparent'])
 
         if transparent:
             kwargs.setdefault('facecolor', 'none')
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index da53d5ece1d1..c6e075e6cd7c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -563,7 +563,9 @@ def draw():
 @docstring.copy_dedent(Figure.savefig)
 def savefig(*args, **kwargs):
     fig = gcf()
-    return fig.savefig(*args, **kwargs)
+    res = fig.savefig(*args, **kwargs)
+    draw()   # need this if 'transparent=True' to reset colors
+    return res
 
 
 @docstring.copy_dedent(Figure.ginput)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index 74b558237fca..6da1748d9c17 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -714,6 +714,7 @@ def __call__(self, s):
     'savefig.pad_inches': [0.1, validate_float],
     # default directory in savefig dialog box
     'savefig.directory': ['~', six.text_type],
+    'savefig.transparent': [False, validate_bool],
 
     # Maintain shell focus for TkAgg
     'tk.window_focus':  [False, validate_bool],
diff --git a/matplotlibrc.template b/matplotlibrc.template
index 00f9e2a56138..44f94fdfd95d 100644
--- a/matplotlibrc.template
+++ b/matplotlibrc.template
@@ -377,6 +377,8 @@ backend      : %(backend)s
 #savefig.jpeg_quality: 95       # when a jpeg is saved, the default quality parameter.
 #savefig.directory   : ~        # default directory in savefig dialog box,
                                 # leave empty to always use current working directory
+#savefig.transparent : False    # setting that controls whether figures are saved with a 
+                                # transparent background by default
 
 # tk backend params
 #tk.window_focus   : False    # Maintain shell focus for TkAgg