diff --git a/features/html_formatter.feature b/features/html_formatter.feature
index 2f66bb6082..1adf7010b0 100644
--- a/features/html_formatter.feature
+++ b/features/html_formatter.feature
@@ -27,8 +27,22 @@ Feature: HTML output formatter
             | two     |
             | three   |
       """
+    And a file named "features/failing_background_step.feature" with:
+      """
+      Feature: Feature with failing background step
+
+        Background:
+          Given this fails
+
+        Scenario:
+          When I do something
+          Then I should see something
+      """
     And a file named "features/step_definitions/steps.rb" with:
       """
+      Given /^this fails$/ do
+        fail 'This step should fail'
+      end
       Given /^this hasn't been implemented yet$/ do
         pending
       end
@@ -61,10 +75,20 @@ Feature: HTML output formatter
     """
       default: -r features
     """
-    When I run `cucumber --profile default --format html`
+    When I run `cucumber features/scenario_outline_with_undefined_steps.feature --profile default --format html`
     Then it should pass
     And the output should not contain:
     """
     Using the default profile...
     """
 
+  Scenario: a feature with a failing background step
+    When I run `cucumber features/failing_background_step.feature --format html`
+    Then the output should not contain:
+    """
+    makeRed('scenario_0')
+    """
+    And the output should contain:
+    """
+    makeRed('background_0')
+    """
diff --git a/spec/cucumber/formatter/html_spec.rb b/spec/cucumber/formatter/html_spec.rb
index 7c159e028c..ad97739a61 100644
--- a/spec/cucumber/formatter/html_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cucumber/formatter/html_spec.rb
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ module Formatter
           it { @doc.should have_css_node('.feature .scenario .step.failed .message', /StandardError/) }
         end
 
-        describe "with a step that fails in the backgound" do
+        describe "with a step that fails in the background" do
           define_steps do
             Given(/boo/) { raise 'eek' }
           end
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ module Formatter
             FEATURE
 
           it { @doc.should have_css_node('.feature .background .step.failed', /eek/) }
+          it { @out.string.should_not include('makeRed(\'scenario_0\')') }
+          it { @out.string.should include('makeRed(\'background_0\')') }
           it { @doc.should_not have_css_node('.feature .scenario .step.failed', //) }
           it { @doc.should have_css_node('.feature .scenario .step.undefined', /yay/) }
         end