diff --git a/include/modules/sni/item.hpp b/include/modules/sni/item.hpp
index 1043157c..ebc08d45 100644
--- a/include/modules/sni/item.hpp
+++ b/include/modules/sni/item.hpp
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ class Item : public sigc::trackable {
   void makeMenu();
   bool handleClick(GdkEventButton* const& /*ev*/);
   bool handleScroll(GdkEventScroll* const&);
+  bool handleMouseEnter(GdkEventCrossing* const&);
+  bool handleMouseLeave(GdkEventCrossing* const&);
 
   // smooth scrolling threshold
   gdouble scroll_threshold_ = 0;
diff --git a/src/modules/sni/item.cpp b/src/modules/sni/item.cpp
index c3de2357..b5c0dd85 100644
--- a/src/modules/sni/item.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/sni/item.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include <map>
 
+#include "gdk/gdk.h"
 #include "util/format.hpp"
 #include "util/gtk_icon.hpp"
 
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ Item::Item(const std::string& bn, const std::string& op, const Json::Value& conf
   event_box.add_events(Gdk::BUTTON_PRESS_MASK | Gdk::SCROLL_MASK | Gdk::SMOOTH_SCROLL_MASK);
   event_box.signal_button_press_event().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Item::handleClick));
   event_box.signal_scroll_event().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Item::handleScroll));
+  event_box.signal_enter_notify_event().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Item::handleMouseEnter));
+  event_box.signal_leave_notify_event().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Item::handleMouseLeave));
   // initial visibility
   event_box.show_all();
   event_box.set_visible(show_passive_);
@@ -69,6 +72,16 @@ Item::Item(const std::string& bn, const std::string& op, const Json::Value& conf
                                    cancellable_, interface);
 }
 
+bool Item::handleMouseEnter(GdkEventCrossing* const& e) {
+  event_box.set_state_flags(Gtk::StateFlags::STATE_FLAG_PRELIGHT);
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool Item::handleMouseLeave(GdkEventCrossing* const& e) {
+  event_box.unset_state_flags(Gtk::StateFlags::STATE_FLAG_PRELIGHT);
+  return false;
+}
+
 void Item::onConfigure(GdkEventConfigure* ev) { this->updateImage(); }
 
 void Item::proxyReady(Glib::RefPtr<Gio::AsyncResult>& result) {