diff --git a/interface/resources/qml/hifi/Pal.qml b/interface/resources/qml/hifi/Pal.qml
index d627fb54f9..d8566bb28e 100644
--- a/interface/resources/qml/hifi/Pal.qml
+++ b/interface/resources/qml/hifi/Pal.qml
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ Rectangle {
             rowDelegate: Rectangle { // The only way I know to specify a row height.
                 // Size
                 height: rowHeight + (styleData.selected ? 15 : 0);
-                color: rowColor(styleData.selected, styleData.alternate);
+                color: nearbyRowColor(styleData.selected, styleData.alternate);
             }
 
             // This Item refers to the contents of each Cell
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ Rectangle {
             rowDelegate: Rectangle {
                 // Size
                 height: rowHeight + (styleData.selected ? 15 : 0);
-                color: rowColor(styleData.selected, styleData.alternate);
+                color: connectionsRowColor(styleData.selected, styleData.alternate);
             }
 
             // This Item refers to the contents of each Cell
@@ -1199,9 +1199,12 @@ Rectangle {
         }
     }
 
-    function rowColor(selected, alternate) {
+    function nearbyRowColor(selected, alternate) {
         return selected ? hifi.colors.orangeHighlight : alternate ? hifi.colors.tableRowLightEven : hifi.colors.tableRowLightOdd;
     }
+    function connectionsRowColor(selected, alternate) {
+        return selected ? hifi.colors.lightBlueHighlight : alternate ? hifi.colors.tableRowLightEven : hifi.colors.tableRowLightOdd;
+    }
     function findNearbySessionIndex(sessionId, optionalData) { // no findIndex in .qml
         var data = optionalData || nearbyUserModelData, length = data.length;
         for (var i = 0; i < length; i++) {
@@ -1272,6 +1275,8 @@ Rectangle {
                 selectionTimer.userIndex = userIndex;
                 selectionTimer.start();
             }
+            // in any case make sure we are in the nearby tab
+            activeTab="nearbyTab";
             break;
         // Received an "updateUsername()" request from the JS
         case 'updateUsername':
diff --git a/interface/resources/qml/styles-uit/HifiConstants.qml b/interface/resources/qml/styles-uit/HifiConstants.qml
index 386af206e1..7b6efbd573 100644
--- a/interface/resources/qml/styles-uit/HifiConstants.qml
+++ b/interface/resources/qml/styles-uit/HifiConstants.qml
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ Item {
         readonly property color magentaAccent: "#A2277C"
         readonly property color checkboxCheckedRed: "#FF0000"
         readonly property color checkboxCheckedBorderRed: "#D00000"
+        readonly property color lightBlueHighlight: "#d6f6ff"
 
         // Semitransparent
         readonly property color darkGray30: "#4d121212"