diff --git a/src/pretix/static/bootstrap/scss/bootstrap/_variables.scss b/src/pretix/static/bootstrap/scss/bootstrap/_variables.scss
index 4e4a45a0a8..898ef14adc 100644
--- a/src/pretix/static/bootstrap/scss/bootstrap/_variables.scss
+++ b/src/pretix/static/bootstrap/scss/bootstrap/_variables.scss
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ $input-border-radius-small:      $border-radius-small !default;
 $input-border-focus:             #66afe9 !default;
 
 //** Placeholder text color
-$input-color-placeholder:        #767676 !default;
+$input-color-placeholder:        #999 !default;
 
 //** Default `.form-control` height
 $input-height-base:              ($line-height-computed + ($padding-base-vertical * 2) + 2) !default;
diff --git a/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_theme.scss b/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_theme.scss
index f8d723992c..7768948f35 100644
--- a/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_theme.scss
+++ b/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_theme.scss
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ input[type=number]::-webkit-outer-spin-button {
    padding: 8px 4px;
 }
 
+.form-control::placeholder {
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
 .sidebar-nav li > a > .fa {
   color: $navbar-inverse-bg;
 }
diff --git a/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_variables.scss b/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_variables.scss
index 0b96291425..2b96fdf5ad 100644
--- a/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_variables.scss
+++ b/src/pretix/static/pretixbase/scss/_variables.scss
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ $gray-lightest: lighten(#000, 97.25%);
 $font-family-sans-serif:  "Open Sans", "OpenSans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !default;
 $text-color: #222222 !default;
 $text-muted: #767676 !default;
+$input-color-placeholder: lighten(#000, 70%) !default;
 
 $brand-primary: #7f5a91 !default;
 $brand-success: #50a167 !default;