diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 7f6c01089d0d..fc19f6108d13 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -411,10 +411,12 @@ def cycle_or_default(seq, default=None):
                     gc0.set_linewidth(lw)
                 if Nlinestyles:
                     gc0.set_dashes(*ls)
-                if len(ec) == 4 and ec[3] == 0.0:
+                ec_rgba = colors.to_rgba(ec)
+                # Fully transparent edges are treated as "no stroke".
+                if ec_rgba[3] == 0.0:
                     gc0.set_linewidth(0)
                 else:
-                    gc0.set_foreground(ec)
+                    gc0.set_foreground(ec_rgba, isRGBA=True)
             if Nhatchcolors:
                 gc0.set_hatch_color(hc)
             if fc is not None and len(fc) == 4 and fc[3] == 0:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/collections.py b/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
index 23f516aa6337..bbc8e57d7a05 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
             gc.set_capstyle(self._capstyle)
 
         if do_single_path_optimization:
-            gc.set_foreground(tuple(edgecolors[0]))
+            gc.set_foreground(tuple(edgecolors[0]), isRGBA=True)
             gc.set_linewidth(self._linewidths[0])
             gc.set_dashes(*self._linestyles[0])
             gc.set_antialiased(self._antialiaseds[0])
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/patheffects.py b/lib/matplotlib/patheffects.py
index f700feac6292..ae808eb62fbe 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/patheffects.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/patheffects.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ def draw_path(self, renderer, gc, tpath, affine, rgbFace):
         else:
             shadow_rgbFace = self._shadow_rgbFace
 
-        gc0.set_foreground("none")
+        gc0.set_foreground(mcolors.to_rgba("none"), isRGBA=True)
         gc0.set_alpha(self._alpha)
         gc0.set_linewidth(0)
 
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ def draw_path(self, renderer, gc, tpath, affine, rgbFace):
         else:
             shadow_rgbFace = self._shadow_color
 
-        gc0.set_foreground(shadow_rgbFace)
+        gc0.set_foreground(mcolors.to_rgba(shadow_rgbFace), isRGBA=True)
         gc0.set_alpha(self._alpha)
 
         gc0 = self._update_gc(gc0, self._gc)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/text.py b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
index d794cab1339b..cbeba1f84307 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/text.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 import matplotlib as mpl
-from . import _api, artist, cbook, _docstring
+from . import _api, artist, cbook, _docstring, colors as mcolors
 from .artist import Artist
 from .font_manager import FontProperties
 from .patches import FancyArrowPatch, FancyBboxPatch, Rectangle
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
                 self._bbox_patch.draw(renderer)
 
             gc = renderer.new_gc()
-            gc.set_foreground(self.get_color())
+            gc.set_foreground(mcolors.to_rgba(self.get_color()), isRGBA=True)
             gc.set_alpha(self.get_alpha())
             gc.set_url(self._url)
             gc.set_antialiased(self._antialiased)
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axis_artist.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axis_artist.py
index e4628f99e420..dd0ed6b583f7 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axis_artist.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axisartist/axis_artist.py
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
             return
 
         gc = renderer.new_gc()
-        gc.set_foreground(self.get_markeredgecolor())
+        edgecolor = mcolors.to_rgba(self.get_markeredgecolor())
+        gc.set_foreground(edgecolor, isRGBA=True)
         gc.set_linewidth(self.get_markeredgewidth())
         gc.set_alpha(self._alpha)