diff --git a/R/revealjs_presentation.R b/R/revealjs_presentation.R
index e67149c..e16e6d3 100644
--- a/R/revealjs_presentation.R
+++ b/R/revealjs_presentation.R
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
                                   self_contained = TRUE,
                                   theme = "default",
                                   transition = "default",
+                                  background_transition = "default",
                                   highlight = "default",
                                   mathjax = "default",
                                   template = "default",
@@ -128,6 +129,10 @@
   transition <- match.arg(transition, revealjs_transitions())
   args <- c(args, "--variable", paste("transition=", transition, sep=""))
   
+  # background_transition
+  background_transition <- match.arg(background_transition, revealjs_transitions())
+  args <- c(args, "--variable", paste("background_transition=", background_transition, sep=""))
+  
   # content includes
   args <- c(args, includes_to_pandoc_args(includes))
   
diff --git a/inst/rmarkdown/templates/revealjs_presentation/default.html b/inst/rmarkdown/templates/revealjs_presentation/default.html
index 7cf650f..ecbcbc2 100644
--- a/inst/rmarkdown/templates/revealjs_presentation/default.html
+++ b/inst/rmarkdown/templates/revealjs_presentation/default.html
@@ -157,7 +157,8 @@
         history: true,
         center: $if(center)$true$else$false$endif$,
         transition: '$transition$',
-
+        backgroundTransition: '$background_transition$',
+        
         // Optional libraries used to extend on reveal.js
         dependencies: []});
     </script>