diff --git a/d2exporter/export.go b/d2exporter/export.go
index 418e71370..4aa15f976 100644
--- a/d2exporter/export.go
+++ b/d2exporter/export.go
@@ -129,6 +129,11 @@ func toShape(obj *d2graph.Object, theme *d2themes.Theme) d2target.Shape {
 	shape.Color = text.GetColor(theme, shape.Italic)
 	applyStyles(shape, obj)
 
+	if obj.IsSequenceDiagramGroup() {
+		shape.StrokeWidth = 0
+		shape.Blend = true
+	}
+
 	switch obj.Attributes.Shape.Value {
 	case d2target.ShapeCode, d2target.ShapeText:
 		shape.Language = obj.Attributes.Language
@@ -147,6 +152,9 @@ func toShape(obj *d2graph.Object, theme *d2themes.Theme) d2target.Shape {
 	shape.LabelHeight = text.Dimensions.Height
 	if obj.LabelPosition != nil {
 		shape.LabelPosition = *obj.LabelPosition
+		if obj.IsSequenceDiagramGroup() {
+			shape.LabelFill = shape.Fill
+		}
 	}
 
 	shape.Tooltip = obj.Attributes.Tooltip
@@ -163,7 +171,6 @@ func toConnection(edge *d2graph.Edge, theme *d2themes.Theme) d2target.Connection
 	connection := d2target.BaseConnection()
 	connection.ID = edge.AbsID()
 	connection.ZIndex = edge.ZIndex
-	// edge.Edge.ID = go2.StringToIntHash(connection.ID)
 	text := edge.Text()
 
 	if edge.SrcArrow {
diff --git a/d2renderers/d2svg/d2svg.go b/d2renderers/d2svg/d2svg.go
index 546ec2740..c3faf9f23 100644
--- a/d2renderers/d2svg/d2svg.go
+++ b/d2renderers/d2svg/d2svg.go
@@ -986,9 +986,20 @@ func drawShape(writer io.Writer, targetShape d2target.Shape, sketchRunner *d2ske
 				fontColor = targetShape.Color
 			}
 			textStyle := fmt.Sprintf("text-anchor:%s;font-size:%vpx;fill:%s", "middle", targetShape.FontSize, fontColor)
+
 			x := labelTL.X + float64(targetShape.LabelWidth)/2.
 			// text is vertically positioned at its baseline which is at labelTL+FontSize
 			y := labelTL.Y + float64(targetShape.FontSize)
+
+			// background does not exist for <text>, so draw a rectangle behind it
+			if targetShape.LabelFill != "" {
+				fmt.Fprintf(writer, `<rect x="%f" y="%f" width="%d" height="%d" fill="%s"></rect>`,
+					labelTL.X, labelTL.Y,
+					targetShape.LabelWidth, targetShape.LabelHeight,
+					targetShape.LabelFill,
+				)
+			}
+
 			fmt.Fprintf(writer, `<text class="%s" x="%f" y="%f" style="%s">%s</text>`,
 				fontClass,
 				x, y,
diff --git a/d2target/d2target.go b/d2target/d2target.go
index b5325d07e..a9647f8e8 100644
--- a/d2target/d2target.go
+++ b/d2target/d2target.go
@@ -236,8 +236,9 @@ type Text struct {
 	Bold      bool `json:"bold"`
 	Underline bool `json:"underline"`
 
-	LabelWidth  int `json:"labelWidth"`
-	LabelHeight int `json:"labelHeight"`
+	LabelWidth  int    `json:"labelWidth"`
+	LabelHeight int    `json:"labelHeight"`
+	LabelFill   string `json:"labelFill,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func BaseShape() *Shape {