diff --git a/core/include/area_data.h b/core/include/area_data.h
index 6e15e89..0aeef05 100644
--- a/core/include/area_data.h
+++ b/core/include/area_data.h
@@ -466,6 +466,13 @@ class AreaData : public QObject {
      */
     QString background() const;
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Sets the background of the area.
+     *
+     * @see #AOClient::cmdSetBackground and #m_background
+     */
+    void setBackground(const QString f_background);
+
     /**
      * @brief Returns if custom shownames are allowed in the area.
      *
diff --git a/core/src/area_data.cpp b/core/src/area_data.cpp
index eca662a..672c14f 100644
--- a/core/src/area_data.cpp
+++ b/core/src/area_data.cpp
@@ -528,6 +528,11 @@ QString AreaData::background() const
     return m_background;
 }
 
+void AreaData::setBackground(const QString f_background)
+{
+    m_background = f_background;
+}
+
 bool AreaData::ignoreBgList()
 {
     return m_ignoreBgList;
diff --git a/core/src/commands/area.cpp b/core/src/commands/area.cpp
index 4871242..bf50975 100644
--- a/core/src/commands/area.cpp
+++ b/core/src/commands/area.cpp
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ void AOClient::cmdSetBackground(int argc, QStringList argv)
     AreaData* area = server->areas[current_area];
     if (authenticated || !area->bgLocked()) {
         if (server->backgrounds.contains(argv[0], Qt::CaseInsensitive) || area->ignoreBgList() == true) {
-            area->background() = argv[0];
+            area->setBackground(argv[0]);
             server->broadcast(AOPacket("BN", {argv[0]}), current_area);
             sendServerMessageArea(current_char + " changed the background to " + argv[0]);
         }