diff --git a/include/layers_id_colors_and_visibility.h b/include/layers_id_colors_and_visibility.h
index f9331a0254..bb1b13a243 100644
--- a/include/layers_id_colors_and_visibility.h
+++ b/include/layers_id_colors_and_visibility.h
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ enum PCB_VISIBLE
     PAD_BK_NETNAMES_VISIBLE,
     PADS_NETNAMES_VISIBLE,
 
+    GP_OVERLAY,                 // General purpose overlay
+
     END_PCB_VISIBLE_LIST  // sentinel
 };
 
@@ -256,6 +258,7 @@ enum PCB_VISIBLE
 /// means that layer is displayed closer to the user, ie. on the top).
 const LAYER_NUM GalLayerOrder[] =
 {
+    ITEM_GAL_LAYER( GP_OVERLAY ),
     ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PADS_NETNAMES_VISIBLE ),
     DRAW_N, COMMENT_N, ECO1_N, ECO2_N, EDGE_N,
     UNUSED_LAYER_29, UNUSED_LAYER_30, UNUSED_LAYER_31,
diff --git a/pcbnew/basepcbframe.cpp b/pcbnew/basepcbframe.cpp
index b55ba8aabd..1308addc82 100644
--- a/pcbnew/basepcbframe.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/basepcbframe.cpp
@@ -831,6 +831,7 @@ void PCB_BASE_FRAME::LoadSettings()
     view->SetRequired( ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PADS_NETNAMES_VISIBLE ), ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PADS_VISIBLE ) );
     view->SetRequired( ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PAD_FR_NETNAMES_VISIBLE ), ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PAD_FR_VISIBLE ) );
     view->SetRequired( ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PAD_BK_NETNAMES_VISIBLE ), ITEM_GAL_LAYER( PAD_BK_VISIBLE ) );
+    view->SetLayerTarget( ITEM_GAL_LAYER( GP_OVERLAY ), KiGfx::TARGET_OVERLAY );
 
     // Apply layer coloring scheme & display options
     if( view->GetPainter() )
diff --git a/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.cpp b/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.cpp
index 3b8c52d0e6..5c30de222c 100644
--- a/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.cpp
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ using namespace KiGfx;
 const BOX2I SELECTION_AREA::ViewBBox() const
 {
 	BOX2I tmp;
-	tmp.SetOrigin(m_origin);
-	tmp.SetEnd(m_end);
+    tmp.SetOrigin( m_origin );
+    tmp.SetEnd( m_end );
 	tmp.Normalize();
 	return tmp;
 }
@@ -49,14 +49,12 @@ void SELECTION_AREA::ViewGetLayers( int aLayers[], int& aCount ) const
 
 void SELECTION_AREA::ViewDraw( int aLayer, GAL* aGal, const BOX2I& aVisibleArea ) const
 {
-    VECTOR2D width = m_view->ToWorld( VECTOR2D( 1.0, 1.0 ), false ); // fixme: pixel-sized stroke width setting?
-    aGal->SetLineWidth( width.x );
-    aGal->SetStrokeColor(COLOR4D(1.0, 1.0, 0.4, 1.0));
-  	aGal->SetFillColor(COLOR4D(0.3, 0.3, 0.5, 0.3));
-    aGal->SetIsStroke(true);
-    aGal->SetIsFill(true);
-    aGal->SetLayerDepth(100.0);
-    aGal->DrawRectangle(m_origin, m_end);
+    aGal->SetLineWidth( 1.0 );
+    aGal->SetStrokeColor( COLOR4D( 1.0, 1.0, 0.4, 1.0 ) );
+    aGal->SetFillColor( COLOR4D( 0.3, 0.3, 0.5, 0.3 ) );
+    aGal->SetIsStroke( true );
+    aGal->SetIsFill( true );
+    aGal->DrawRectangle( m_origin, m_end );
 }
 
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.h b/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.h
index e004339d9b..8cc380b4ab 100644
--- a/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.h
+++ b/pcbnew/tools/selection_area.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <view/view.h>
 #include <gal/graphics_abstraction_layer.h>
 #include <base_struct.h>
+#include <layers_id_colors_and_visibility.h>
 
 /**
  * Class SELECTION_AREA
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@
 class SELECTION_AREA : public EDA_ITEM
 {
 public:
-    static const int SelectionLayer = 126;		// fixme: define globally
+    static const int SelectionLayer = ITEM_GAL_LAYER( GP_OVERLAY );
 
     SELECTION_AREA();
     ~SELECTION_AREA() {};
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ public:
         m_end = aEnd;
     }
 
-    void Show(int x, std::ostream& st) const
+    void Show( int x, std::ostream& st) const
     {
     }
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/tools/selection_tool.cpp b/pcbnew/tools/selection_tool.cpp
index acd33326d6..19d25b95e4 100644
--- a/pcbnew/tools/selection_tool.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/tools/selection_tool.cpp
@@ -199,10 +199,6 @@ void SELECTION_TOOL::selectMultiple()
             m_selArea->SetEnd( evt->Position() );
             m_selArea->ViewSetVisible( true );
             m_selArea->ViewUpdate( VIEW_ITEM::APPEARANCE | VIEW_ITEM::GEOMETRY );
-
-            v->SetLayerVisible( SELECTION_AREA::SelectionLayer );
-            v->SetLayerOrder( SELECTION_AREA::SelectionLayer, 1000 );
-            v->SetLayerTarget( SELECTION_AREA::SelectionLayer, TARGET_OVERLAY );
         }
 
         if( evt->IsMouseUp( MB_Left ) )