diff --git a/assets/settings/default.json b/assets/settings/default.json
index 7349eb2eef..f88a8aa9c4 100644
--- a/assets/settings/default.json
+++ b/assets/settings/default.json
@@ -606,6 +606,9 @@
     "fit": "cover",
     // The opacity of the background image, between 0.0 (fully transparent) and 1.0 (fully opaque).
     "opacity": 0.6,
+    // The opacity of the UI drawn on top of the image, between 0.0 (UI fully
+    // transparent, image fully visible) and 1.0 (opaque UI).
+    "ui_opacity": 1.0,
   },
   // Scrollbar related settings
   "scrollbar": {
diff --git a/crates/settings_content/src/background_image.rs b/crates/settings_content/src/background_image.rs
index f40c102c96..6109b5d021 100644
--- a/crates/settings_content/src/background_image.rs
+++ b/crates/settings_content/src/background_image.rs
@@ -39,4 +39,12 @@ pub struct BackgroundImageSettingsContent {
     ///
     /// Default: 0.6
     pub opacity: Option<f32>,
+
+    /// The opacity applied to the UI elements drawn on top of the image,
+    /// between 0.0 (fully transparent UI, image fully visible) and 1.0
+    /// (opaque UI, the default). Lower this to make the image show through
+    /// panels and editors.
+    ///
+    /// Default: 1.0
+    pub ui_opacity: Option<f32>,
 }
diff --git a/crates/settings_ui/src/page_data.rs b/crates/settings_ui/src/page_data.rs
index 62ce3b3230..afb56f052e 100644
--- a/crates/settings_ui/src/page_data.rs
+++ b/crates/settings_ui/src/page_data.rs
@@ -1530,7 +1530,7 @@ fn appearance_page() -> SettingsPage {
         ]
     }
 
-    fn background_image_section() -> [SettingsPageItem; 4] {
+    fn background_image_section() -> [SettingsPageItem; 5] {
         [
             SettingsPageItem::SectionHeader("Background Image"),
             SettingsPageItem::SettingItem(SettingItem {
@@ -1590,6 +1590,25 @@ fn appearance_page() -> SettingsPage {
                 metadata: None,
                 files: USER,
             }),
+            SettingsPageItem::SettingItem(SettingItem {
+                title: "UI Opacity",
+                description: "Opacity of the UI drawn on top of the image, between 0.0 (image fully visible) and 1.0 (opaque UI).",
+                field: Box::new(SettingField {
+                    organization_override: None,
+                    json_path: Some("background.ui_opacity"),
+                    pick: |settings_content| {
+                        settings_content.background.as_ref()?.ui_opacity.as_ref()
+                    },
+                    write: |settings_content, value, _| {
+                        settings_content
+                            .background
+                            .get_or_insert_default()
+                            .ui_opacity = value;
+                    },
+                }),
+                metadata: None,
+                files: USER,
+            }),
         ]
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/background_image.rs b/crates/workspace/src/background_image.rs
index 39f68f057c..caeb8fe51d 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/background_image.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/background_image.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ pub struct BackgroundImageSettings {
     pub fit: BackgroundImageFit,
     /// The opacity of the image, between 0.0 and 1.0.
     pub opacity: f32,
+    /// The opacity of the UI drawn on top of the image, between 0.0 and 1.0.
+    pub ui_opacity: f32,
 }
 
 impl Default for BackgroundImageSettings {
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ impl Default for BackgroundImageSettings {
             path: None,
             fit: BackgroundImageFit::Cover,
             opacity: DEFAULT_BACKGROUND_IMAGE_OPACITY,
+            ui_opacity: 1.0,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -59,6 +62,10 @@ impl Settings for BackgroundImageSettings {
                 .opacity
                 .map(|opacity| opacity.clamp(0.0, 1.0))
                 .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_BACKGROUND_IMAGE_OPACITY),
+            ui_opacity: background
+                .ui_opacity
+                .map(|opacity| opacity.clamp(0.0, 1.0))
+                .unwrap_or(1.0),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -110,12 +117,20 @@ impl BackgroundImage {
         let cache_dir = self.cache_dir.clone();
         let executor = cx.background_executor().clone();
         self._load_task = Some(cx.spawn(async move |this, cx| {
-            let image =
-                load_background_image(&fs, &path, &cache_dir, executor.clone()).await;
+            let fs = fs.clone();
+            let path = path.clone();
+            let path_for_check = path.clone();
+            let cache_dir = cache_dir.clone();
+            let load_task = executor
+                .clone()
+                .spawn(async move {
+                    load_background_image(&fs, &path, &cache_dir, executor.clone()).await
+                });
+            let image = load_task.await;
 
             this.update(cx, |this, cx| {
                 // Drop the result if the settings changed while loading.
-                if this.settings.path.as_deref() == Some(path.as_ref()) {
+                if this.settings.path.as_deref() == Some(path_for_check.as_ref()) {
                     this.image = image;
                 }
                 this._load_task = None;
@@ -336,6 +351,7 @@ mod tests {
                         path: Some("~/background.png".to_string()),
                         fit: Some(BackgroundImageFit::Contain),
                         opacity: Some(0.25),
+                        ui_opacity: None,
                     });
                 });
             });
diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs b/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
index 83bb654807..b1f4ce8d2e 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
@@ -9323,9 +9323,11 @@ impl Render for Workspace {
             workspace: &self.weak_self,
         };
 
-        div()
-            .relative()
-            .child(self.background_image.clone())
+        let background_settings =
+            background_image::BackgroundImageSettings::get_global(cx);
+        let ui_opacity = background_settings.ui_opacity;
+
+        let ui = div()
             .size_full()
             .flex()
             .flex_col()
@@ -9335,6 +9337,7 @@ impl Render for Workspace {
             .items_start()
             .text_color(colors.text)
             .overflow_hidden()
+            .when(ui_opacity < 1.0, |div| div.opacity(ui_opacity))
             // Expose the title bar as an ARIA toolbar so region navigation
             // (FocusNextPart) can reach the top bar's controls and assistive
             // technology announces it as a toolbar. The contained controls form
@@ -9742,7 +9745,13 @@ impl Render for Workspace {
                         parent.child(self.status_bar.clone())
                     })
                     .child(self.toast_layer.clone()),
-            )
+            );
+
+        div()
+            .relative()
+            .size_full()
+            .child(self.background_image.clone())
+            .child(ui)
     }
 }