diff --git a/gauge.py b/gauge.py
index 1e21172..fb0480b 100644
--- a/gauge.py
+++ b/gauge.py
@@ -384,6 +384,53 @@ def publish_backlight_states(client):
             log_err(f"Backlight state publish failed for gauge {i}: {e}")
 
 
+def restore_backlight_state(gauge_idx, payload):
+    """Restore retained backlight state without republishing it back to MQTT."""
+    global backlight_color, backlight_brightness, backlight_on, _bl_effect
+
+    try:
+        data = ujson.loads(payload)
+    except Exception as e:
+        warn(f"Invalid retained backlight state for gauge {gauge_idx}: '{payload}' ({e})")
+        return
+
+    state_on = data.get("state", "OFF").upper() != "OFF"
+    effect = data.get("effect")
+    if effect not in _EFFECTS:
+        effect = None
+
+    if not state_on:
+        _bl_effect[gauge_idx] = None
+        backlight_on[gauge_idx] = False
+        set_backlight_brightness(gauge_idx, 0)
+        return
+
+    color = data.get("color", {})
+    r = max(0, min(255, int(color.get("r", backlight_color[gauge_idx][0]))))
+    g = max(0, min(255, int(color.get("g", backlight_color[gauge_idx][1]))))
+    b = max(0, min(255, int(color.get("b", backlight_color[gauge_idx][2]))))
+    raw_br = data.get("brightness", None)
+    if raw_br is not None:
+        brightness = max(0, min(100, round(int(raw_br) / 2.55)))
+    elif backlight_brightness[gauge_idx] > 0:
+        brightness = backlight_brightness[gauge_idx]
+    else:
+        brightness = 100
+
+    _bl_effect[gauge_idx] = effect
+    if effect:
+        scale = brightness / 100
+        rs = int(r * scale)
+        gs = int(g * scale)
+        bs_ = int(b * scale)
+        _send_effect(gauge_idx, _LED_BACKLIGHT_RANGE, (rs, gs, bs_), effect)
+        backlight_color[gauge_idx] = (r, g, b)
+        backlight_brightness[gauge_idx] = brightness
+        backlight_on[gauge_idx] = True
+    else:
+        set_backlight_color(gauge_idx, r, g, b, brightness)
+
+
 def _flush_backlight_state():
     global _bl_dirty_since
     if _bl_dirty_since is None:
@@ -570,6 +617,11 @@ def on_message(topic, payload):
         return
 
     for i, gt in enumerate(gauge_topics):
+        if topic == gt["led_bl_state"]:
+            restore_backlight_state(i, payload)
+            info(f"Gauge {i} backlight state restored")
+            return
+
         if topic == gt["zero"]:
             info(f"Home command received for gauge {i}")
             gauge_home(i)
@@ -798,6 +850,7 @@ def _subscribe_all(c):
         c.subscribe(f"{prefix}/led/red/set")
         c.subscribe(f"{prefix}/led/green/set")
         c.subscribe(f"{prefix}/led/backlight/set")
+        c.subscribe(f"{prefix}/led/backlight/state")
         c.subscribe(f"{prefix}/status_led/red/set")
         c.subscribe(f"{prefix}/status_led/green/set")