diff --git a/.changeset/dirty-turkeys-reflect.md b/.changeset/dirty-turkeys-reflect.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eac601f75c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/dirty-turkeys-reflect.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/theme': patch
+---
+
+Align Material UI v5 `Paper` component background color in dark mode to v4.
diff --git a/packages/theme/src/v5/defaultComponentThemes.ts b/packages/theme/src/v5/defaultComponentThemes.ts
index e484300818..60caa47e90 100644
--- a/packages/theme/src/v5/defaultComponentThemes.ts
+++ b/packages/theme/src/v5/defaultComponentThemes.ts
@@ -239,4 +239,7 @@ export const defaultComponentThemes: ThemeOptions['components'] = {
       underline: 'hover',
     },
   },
+  MuiPaper: {
+    styleOverrides: { root: { backgroundImage: 'unset' } },
+  },
 };