diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.bar.js b/src/controllers/controller.bar.js
index 0f7d4a117..4c35167f6 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.bar.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.bar.js
@@ -299,8 +299,8 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			var dataset = this.chart.data.datasets[rectangle._datasetIndex];
 			var index = rectangle._index;
 
-			rectangle._model.backgroundColor = rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? rectangle.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.color(rectangle._model.backgroundColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
-			rectangle._model.borderColor = rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.hoverBorderColor ? rectangle.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.color(rectangle._model.borderColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
+			rectangle._model.backgroundColor = rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? rectangle.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(rectangle._model.backgroundColor));
+			rectangle._model.borderColor = rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.hoverBorderColor ? rectangle.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(rectangle._model.borderColor));
 			rectangle._model.borderWidth = rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.hoverBorderWidth ? rectangle.custom.hoverBorderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderWidth, index, rectangle._model.borderWidth);
 		},
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.bubble.js b/src/controllers/controller.bubble.js
index 82ff94bc1..23500c29f 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.bubble.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.bubble.js
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			var index = point._index;
 
 			point._model.radius = point.custom && point.custom.hoverRadius ? point.custom.hoverRadius : (helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverRadius, index, this.chart.options.elements.point.hoverRadius)) + this.getRadius(this.getDataset().data[point._index]);
-			point._model.backgroundColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.color(point._model.backgroundColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
-			point._model.borderColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderColor ? point.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.color(point._model.borderColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
+			point._model.backgroundColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(point._model.backgroundColor));
+			point._model.borderColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderColor ? point.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(point._model.borderColor));
 			point._model.borderWidth = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderWidth ? point.custom.hoverBorderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderWidth, index, point._model.borderWidth);
 		},
 
@@ -161,4 +161,4 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			point._model.borderWidth = point.custom && point.custom.borderWidth ? point.custom.borderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(this.getDataset().borderWidth, index, this.chart.options.elements.point.borderWidth);
 		}
 	});
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js b/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js
index 7170ecccf..347386b66 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js
@@ -250,8 +250,8 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			var dataset = this.chart.data.datasets[arc._datasetIndex];
 			var index = arc._index;
 
-			arc._model.backgroundColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.color(arc._model.backgroundColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
-			arc._model.borderColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBorderColor ? arc.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.color(arc._model.borderColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
+			arc._model.backgroundColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(arc._model.backgroundColor));
+			arc._model.borderColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBorderColor ? arc.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(arc._model.borderColor));
 			arc._model.borderWidth = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBorderWidth ? arc.custom.hoverBorderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderWidth, index, arc._model.borderWidth);
 		},
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.line.js b/src/controllers/controller.line.js
index 81733785f..e863399b8 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.line.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.line.js
@@ -291,8 +291,8 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			var index = point._index;
 
 			point._model.radius = point.custom && point.custom.hoverRadius ? point.custom.hoverRadius : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverRadius, index, this.chart.options.elements.point.hoverRadius);
-			point._model.backgroundColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.color(point._model.backgroundColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
-			point._model.borderColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderColor ? point.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBorderColor, index, helpers.color(point._model.borderColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
+			point._model.backgroundColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(point._model.backgroundColor));
+			point._model.borderColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderColor ? point.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBorderColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(point._model.borderColor));
 			point._model.borderWidth = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderWidth ? point.custom.hoverBorderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBorderWidth, index, point._model.borderWidth);
 		},
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js b/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js
index 0b64c9248..e08365add 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js
@@ -209,8 +209,8 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			var dataset = this.chart.data.datasets[arc._datasetIndex];
 			var index = arc._index;
 
-			arc._model.backgroundColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.color(arc._model.backgroundColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
-			arc._model.borderColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBorderColor ? arc.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.color(arc._model.borderColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
+			arc._model.backgroundColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? arc.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(arc._model.backgroundColor));
+			arc._model.borderColor = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBorderColor ? arc.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(arc._model.borderColor));
 			arc._model.borderWidth = arc.custom && arc.custom.hoverBorderWidth ? arc.custom.hoverBorderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.hoverBorderWidth, index, arc._model.borderWidth);
 		},
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.radar.js b/src/controllers/controller.radar.js
index 2c13fa817..423c3ed97 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.radar.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.radar.js
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			var index = point._index;
 
 			point._model.radius = point.custom && point.custom.hoverRadius ? point.custom.hoverRadius : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverRadius, index, this.chart.options.elements.point.hoverRadius);
-			point._model.backgroundColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.color(point._model.backgroundColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
-			point._model.borderColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderColor ? point.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBorderColor, index, helpers.color(point._model.borderColor).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString());
+			point._model.backgroundColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor ? point.custom.hoverBackgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBackgroundColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(point._model.backgroundColor));
+			point._model.borderColor = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderColor ? point.custom.hoverBorderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBorderColor, index, helpers.getHoverColor(point._model.borderColor));
 			point._model.borderWidth = point.custom && point.custom.hoverBorderWidth ? point.custom.hoverBorderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(dataset.pointHoverBorderWidth, index, point._model.borderWidth);
 		},
 
@@ -206,4 +206,4 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			point._model.borderWidth = point.custom && point.custom.borderWidth ? point.custom.borderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(this.getDataset().pointBorderWidth, index, this.chart.options.elements.point.borderWidth);
 		}
 	});
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/src/core/core.helpers.js b/src/core/core.helpers.js
index 7d3983fa8..5d4094713 100644
--- a/src/core/core.helpers.js
+++ b/src/core/core.helpers.js
@@ -943,5 +943,10 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			fn.apply(_tArg, args);
 		}
 	};
-
+	helpers.getHoverColor = function(color) {
+		/* global CanvasPattern */
+		return (color instanceof CanvasPattern) ?
+			color :
+			helpers.color(color).saturate(0.5).darken(0.1).rgbString();
+	};
 };
diff --git a/test/core.helpers.tests.js b/test/core.helpers.tests.js
index 9b452515e..80bf992b8 100644
--- a/test/core.helpers.tests.js
+++ b/test/core.helpers.tests.js
@@ -686,4 +686,29 @@ describe('Core helper tests', function() {
 		});
 	});
 
+	describe('Background hover color helper', function() {
+		it('should return a CanvasPattern when called with a CanvasPattern', function(done) {
+			var dots = new Image();
+			dots.src = 'data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAMAAAAolt3jAAAAD1BMVEUAAAD///////////////+PQt5oAAAABXRSTlMAHlFhZsfk/BEAAAAqSURBVHgBY2BgZGJmYmSAAUYWEIDzmcBcJhiXGcxlRpPFrhdmMiqgvX0AcGIBEUAo6UAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=';
+			dots.onload = function() {
+				var chartContext = document.createElement('canvas').getContext('2d');
+				var patternCanvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+				var patternContext = patternCanvas.getContext('2d');
+				var pattern = patternContext.createPattern(dots, 'repeat');
+				patternContext.fillStyle = pattern;
+
+				var backgroundColor = helpers.getHoverColor(chartContext.createPattern(patternCanvas, 'repeat'));
+
+				expect(backgroundColor instanceof CanvasPattern).toBe(true);
+
+				done();
+			}
+		});
+
+		it('should return a modified version of color when called with a color', function() {
+			var originalColorRGB = 'rgb(70, 191, 189)';
+
+			expect(helpers.getHoverColor('#46BFBD')).not.toEqual(originalColorRGB);
+		});
+	});
 });