diff --git a/pymc3/plots/artists.py b/pymc3/plots/artists.py
index 893d9d37ab..81c9dbae51 100644
--- a/pymc3/plots/artists.py
+++ b/pymc3/plots/artists.py
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ def set_key_if_doesnt_exist(d, key, value):
         set_key_if_doesnt_exist(kwargs, 'bins', 30)
         set_key_if_doesnt_exist(kwargs, 'edgecolor', 'w')
         set_key_if_doesnt_exist(kwargs, 'align', 'right')
+        set_key_if_doesnt_exist(kwargs, 'color', '#87ceeb')
         ax.hist(trace_values, **kwargs)
 
     plot_height = ax.get_ylim()[1]