diff --git a/engine/render.py b/engine/render.py
index 8773c90..ccf1e12 100644
--- a/engine/render.py
+++ b/engine/render.py
@@ -254,6 +254,29 @@ def lr_gradient_opposite(rows, offset=0.0):
     return lr_gradient(rows, offset, _default_magenta_gradient())
 
 
+def msg_gradient(rows, offset):
+    """Apply message (ntfy) gradient using theme complementary colors.
+
+    Returns colored rows using ACTIVE_THEME.message_gradient if available,
+    falling back to default magenta if no theme is set.
+
+    Args:
+        rows: List of text strings to colorize
+        offset: Gradient offset (0.0-1.0) for animation
+
+    Returns:
+        List of rows with ANSI color codes applied
+    """
+    from engine import config
+
+    cols = (
+        _color_codes_to_ansi(config.ACTIVE_THEME.message_gradient)
+        if config.ACTIVE_THEME
+        else _default_magenta_gradient()
+    )
+    return lr_gradient(rows, offset, cols)
+
+
 # ─── HEADLINE BLOCK ASSEMBLY ─────────────────────────────
 def make_block(title, src, ts, w):
     """Render a headline into a content block with color."""
diff --git a/engine/scroll.py b/engine/scroll.py
index 810fe9f..b50b793 100644
--- a/engine/scroll.py
+++ b/engine/scroll.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from engine.effects import (
     noise,
     vis_trunc,
 )
-from engine.render import big_wrap, lr_gradient, lr_gradient_opposite, make_block
+from engine.render import big_wrap, lr_gradient, msg_gradient, make_block
 from engine.terminal import CLR, RST, W_COOL, th, tw
 
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def stream(items, ntfy_poller, mic_monitor):
                 _msg_cache = (cache_key, msg_rows)
             else:
                 msg_rows = _msg_cache[1]
-            msg_rows = lr_gradient_opposite(
+            msg_rows = msg_gradient(
                 msg_rows, (time.monotonic() * config.GRAD_SPEED) % 1.0
             )
             # Layout: rendered text + meta + border
diff --git a/tests/test_render.py b/tests/test_render.py
index 5482853..20eb63e 100644
--- a/tests/test_render.py
+++ b/tests/test_render.py
@@ -172,3 +172,130 @@ class TestLrGradientBasicFunctionality:
             assert len(result) == 3
         finally:
             config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme
+
+
+class TestMsgGradient:
+    """Tests for msg_gradient function (message/ntfy overlay coloring)."""
+
+    def test_msg_gradient_uses_active_theme(self):
+        """msg_gradient uses ACTIVE_THEME.message_gradient when theme is set."""
+        # Save original state
+        original_theme = config.ACTIVE_THEME
+
+        try:
+            # Set a theme
+            config.set_active_theme("green")
+
+            # Create simple test data
+            rows = ["MESSAGE"]
+
+            # Call msg_gradient
+            result = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.0)
+
+            # Should return colored output using theme's message_gradient
+            assert isinstance(result, list)
+            assert len(result) == 1
+            # Should have ANSI codes from the message gradient
+            assert result[0] != "MESSAGE"
+            assert "\033[" in result[0]
+        finally:
+            # Restore original state
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme
+
+    def test_msg_gradient_fallback_when_no_theme(self):
+        """msg_gradient uses fallback magenta when ACTIVE_THEME is None."""
+        # Save original state
+        original_theme = config.ACTIVE_THEME
+
+        try:
+            # Clear the theme
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = None
+
+            # Create simple test data
+            rows = ["MESSAGE"]
+
+            # Call msg_gradient
+            result = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.0)
+
+            # Should return colored output using default magenta
+            assert isinstance(result, list)
+            assert len(result) == 1
+            # Should have ANSI codes
+            assert result[0] != "MESSAGE"
+            assert "\033[" in result[0]
+        finally:
+            # Restore original state
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme
+
+    def test_msg_gradient_returns_colored_rows(self):
+        """msg_gradient returns properly colored rows with animation offset."""
+        # Save original state
+        original_theme = config.ACTIVE_THEME
+
+        try:
+            # Set a theme
+            config.set_active_theme("orange")
+
+            rows = ["NTFY", "ALERT"]
+
+            # Call with offset
+            result = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.5)
+
+            # Should return same number of rows
+            assert len(result) == 2
+            # Both should be colored
+            assert all("\033[" in r for r in result)
+            # Should not be the original text
+            assert result != rows
+        finally:
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme
+
+    def test_msg_gradient_different_themes_produce_different_results(self):
+        """msg_gradient produces different colors for different themes."""
+        original_theme = config.ACTIVE_THEME
+
+        try:
+            rows = ["TEST"]
+
+            # Get result with green theme
+            config.set_active_theme("green")
+            result_green = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.0)
+
+            # Get result with orange theme
+            config.set_active_theme("orange")
+            result_orange = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.0)
+
+            # Results should be different (different message gradients)
+            assert result_green != result_orange
+        finally:
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme
+
+    def test_msg_gradient_preserves_spacing(self):
+        """msg_gradient preserves spaces in rows."""
+        original_theme = config.ACTIVE_THEME
+
+        try:
+            config.set_active_theme("purple")
+            rows = ["M E S S A G E"]
+
+            result = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.0)
+
+            # Spaces should be preserved
+            assert " " in result[0]
+        finally:
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme
+
+    def test_msg_gradient_empty_rows(self):
+        """msg_gradient handles empty rows correctly."""
+        original_theme = config.ACTIVE_THEME
+
+        try:
+            config.set_active_theme("green")
+            rows = [""]
+
+            result = render.msg_gradient(rows, offset=0.0)
+
+            # Empty row should stay empty
+            assert result == [""]
+        finally:
+            config.ACTIVE_THEME = original_theme