diff --git a/src/wp-admin/css/common.css b/src/wp-admin/css/common.css
index 0ffe623bb3..906fd5b137 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/css/common.css
+++ b/src/wp-admin/css/common.css
@@ -602,6 +602,7 @@ code {
 	font-weight: 600;
 	font-size: 13px;
 	line-height: normal; /* IE8-IE11 need this for buttons */
+	color: #0073aa; /* some of these controls are button elements and don't inherit from links */
 	cursor: pointer;
 	outline: 0;
 }
@@ -613,6 +614,11 @@ code {
 	color: #fff;
 }
 
+/* lower specificity: color needs to be overridden by :hover and :active */
+.page-title-action:focus {
+	color: #124964;
+}
+
 .wrap .page-title-action:focus {
 	border-color: #5b9dd9;
 	-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 2px rgba( 30, 140, 190, 0.8 );