diff --git a/cosmic-panel-bin/src/space_container/toplevel.rs b/cosmic-panel-bin/src/space_container/toplevel.rs
index 163ab07c..59e66f3a 100644
--- a/cosmic-panel-bin/src/space_container/toplevel.rs
+++ b/cosmic-panel-bin/src/space_container/toplevel.rs
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ impl SpaceContainer {
 
             let opacity = if maximized {
                 config.maximize();
-                1.0
+                config.opacity
             } else {
                 if let Some(c) = c {
                     config = c.clone();
diff --git a/cosmic-panel-config/src/container_config.rs b/cosmic-panel-config/src/container_config.rs
index 925859b9..d649ff4e 100644
--- a/cosmic-panel-config/src/container_config.rs
+++ b/cosmic-panel-config/src/container_config.rs
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ impl Default for CosmicPanelContainerConfig {
                     opacity: 1.0,
                     autohover_delay_ms: Some(500),
                     padding_overlap: 0.5,
+                    keep_style_on_maximize: false,
                 },
                 CosmicPanelConfig {
                     name: "Dock".to_string(),
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ impl Default for CosmicPanelContainerConfig {
                     opacity: 1.0,
                     autohover_delay_ms: Some(500),
                     padding_overlap: 0.5,
+                    keep_style_on_maximize: false,
                 },
             ],
         }
diff --git a/cosmic-panel-config/src/panel_config.rs b/cosmic-panel-config/src/panel_config.rs
index bcdbfe1e..6a78a54c 100644
--- a/cosmic-panel-config/src/panel_config.rs
+++ b/cosmic-panel-config/src/panel_config.rs
@@ -416,6 +416,9 @@ pub struct CosmicPanelConfig {
     pub autohover_delay_ms: Option<u32>,
     /// padding overlap ratio
     pub padding_overlap: f32,
+    /// keep panel styling when windows are maximized
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub keep_style_on_maximize: bool,
 }
 
 impl PartialEq for CosmicPanelConfig {
@@ -442,6 +445,7 @@ impl PartialEq for CosmicPanelConfig {
             && self.size_center == other.size_center
             && self.size_wings == other.size_wings
             && (self.opacity - other.opacity).abs() < 0.01
+            && self.keep_style_on_maximize == other.keep_style_on_maximize
     }
 }
 
@@ -471,6 +475,7 @@ impl Default for CosmicPanelConfig {
             opacity: 0.8,
             autohover_delay_ms: Some(500),
             padding_overlap: 0.5,
+            keep_style_on_maximize: false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -689,6 +694,9 @@ impl CosmicPanelConfig {
     }
 
     pub fn maximize(&mut self) {
+        if self.keep_style_on_maximize {
+            return;
+        }
         self.opacity = 1.0;
         if self.autohide().is_some() {
             return;