diff --git a/src/ui/starter-select-ui-handler.ts b/src/ui/starter-select-ui-handler.ts
index d65abf70134..36e00eed43a 100644
--- a/src/ui/starter-select-ui-handler.ts
+++ b/src/ui/starter-select-ui-handler.ts
@@ -1629,6 +1629,8 @@ export default class StarterSelectUiHandler extends MessageUiHandler {
                       this.setUpgradeAnimation(starterContainer.icon, this.lastSpecies, true);
                     }
 
+                    starterContainer.starterPassiveBgs.setVisible(!!this.scene.gameData.starterData[this.lastSpecies.speciesId].passiveAttr);
+
                     return true;
                   }
                   return false;