diff --git a/pixelhouse/_version.py b/pixelhouse/_version.py
index 08aa3d8..1819c28 100644
--- a/pixelhouse/_version.py
+++ b/pixelhouse/_version.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-__version__ = "0.5.3"
+__version__ = "0.5.4"
 
 """
+Version: 0.5.4: Loaded images are now fully opaque
 Version: 0.5.3: Show and resize now return self for chaining
 Version: 0.5.2: Add canvas init from image and setters from scalars
 Version: 0.5.1: Add canvas.rgb getter/setter to quickly get non-alpha img
diff --git a/pixelhouse/canvas.py b/pixelhouse/canvas.py
index cbd08cf..e1bf155 100644
--- a/pixelhouse/canvas.py
+++ b/pixelhouse/canvas.py
@@ -439,9 +439,9 @@ def load(self, filename):
         # Read the image in and convert to RGB space
         img = cv2.imread(filename, cv2.IMREAD_UNCHANGED)
 
-        # If needed, add in an alpha channel
+        # If needed, add in an alpha channel as fully opaque
         if img.shape[2] == 3:
-            alpha = np.zeros_like(img[:, :, 0])
+            alpha = 255*np.ones_like(img[:, :, 0])
             img = np.dstack((img, alpha))
 
         self.img = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGRA2RGBA)