diff --git a/vips.h b/vips.h
index 371de43..c3f7d9e 100644
--- a/vips.h
+++ b/vips.h
@@ -283,6 +283,12 @@ vips_is_16bit (VipsInterpretation interpretation) {
 
 int
 vips_flatten_background_brigde(VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, double r, double g, double b) {
+	if (vips_is_16bit(in->Type)) {
+		r = 65535 * r / 255;
+		g = 65535 * g / 255;
+		b = 65535 * b / 255;
+	}
+
 	double background[3] = {r, g, b};
 	VipsArrayDouble *vipsBackground = vips_array_double_new(background, 3);