diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-setting.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-setting.php
index ebc36a4b35..087d5e3496 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-setting.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-setting.php
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class WP_Customize_Setting {
 	public $theme_supports    = '';
 	public $default           = '';
 	public $sanitize_callback = '';
+	public $transport         = 'refresh';
 
 	protected $id_data = array();
 	private $_post_value; // Cached, sanitized $_POST value.
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-customize.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-customize.php
index e4d3abb5dd..d6acb74b61 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-customize.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-customize.php
@@ -580,6 +580,7 @@ final class WP_Customize {
 			'default'           => get_theme_support( 'custom-background', 'default-color' ),
 			'sanitize_callback' => 'sanitize_hexcolor',
 			'theme_supports'    => 'custom-background',
+			'transport'         => 'postMessage',
 		) );
 
 		$this->add_control( 'background_color', array(
diff --git a/wp-includes/customize-controls.php b/wp-includes/customize-controls.php
index cd28f6c72e..32a2519035 100644
--- a/wp-includes/customize-controls.php
+++ b/wp-includes/customize-controls.php
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ do_action( 'customize_controls_print_scripts' );
 
 	foreach ( $this->settings as $id => $setting ) {
 		$settings['settings'][ $id ] = array(
-			'value'   => $setting->value(),
+			'value'     => $setting->value(),
+			'transport' => $setting->transport,
 		);
 	}
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/js/customize-controls.dev.js b/wp-includes/js/customize-controls.dev.js
index 6f596a8ed5..8dd812eaab 100644
--- a/wp-includes/js/customize-controls.dev.js
+++ b/wp-includes/js/customize-controls.dev.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 	/*
 	 * @param options
 	 * - previewer - The Previewer instance to sync with.
-	 * - method    - The method to use for previewing. Supports 'refresh' and 'postMessage'.
+	 * - transport - The transport to use for previewing. Supports 'refresh' and 'postMessage'.
 	 */
 	api.Setting = api.Value.extend({
 		initialize: function( id, value, options ) {
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 			api.Value.prototype.initialize.call( this, value, options );
 
 			this.id = id;
-			this.method = this.method || 'refresh';
+			this.transport = this.transport || 'refresh';
 
 			element = $( '<input />', {
 				type:  'hidden',
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 			this.bind( this.preview );
 		},
 		preview: function() {
-			switch ( this.method ) {
+			switch ( this.transport ) {
 				case 'refresh':
 					return this.previewer.refresh();
 				case 'postMessage':
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@
 
 		$.each( api.settings.settings, function( id, data ) {
 			api.set( id, id, data.value, {
+				transport: data.transport,
 				previewer: previewer
 			} );
 		});
@@ -434,11 +435,6 @@
 			event.preventDefault();
 		});
 
-		// Background color uses postMessage by default
-		api( 'background_color', function( setting ) {
-			setting.method = 'postMessage';
-		});
-
 		// Control visibility for default controls
 		$.each({
 			'background_image': {