diff --git a/test/api/v3/integration/user/PUT-user.test.js b/test/api/v3/integration/user/PUT-user.test.js
index 49f365465a..6f1b2b5bba 100644
--- a/test/api/v3/integration/user/PUT-user.test.js
+++ b/test/api/v3/integration/user/PUT-user.test.js
@@ -274,6 +274,14 @@ describe('PUT /user', () => {
         expect(get(updatedUser.preferences, type)).to.eql(item);
       });
     });
+
+    it('updates user when background is unequipped', async () => {
+      expect(get(user.preferences, 'background')).to.not.eql('');
+
+      const updatedUser = await user.put('/user', { 'preferences.background': '' });
+
+      expect(get(updatedUser.preferences, 'background')).to.eql('');
+    });
   });
 
   context('Improvement Categories', () => {
diff --git a/website/server/libs/user/index.js b/website/server/libs/user/index.js
index eb2743e9f1..740eb127f8 100644
--- a/website/server/libs/user/index.js
+++ b/website/server/libs/user/index.js
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ const requiresPurchase = {
 };
 
 function checkPreferencePurchase (user, path, item) {
+  if (path === 'background' && item === '') return true;
   const itemPath = `${path}.${item}`;
   const appearance = _.get(common.content.appearances, itemPath);
   if (!appearance) return false;