White-space color should be honored on non-highlighted files

I'm getting annoyed that white-space isn't colored on non-syntax-highlighted files like my Makefiles in my generic makefile projects. I can understand the reasoning, but IMO white-space should only be shown when the requested color is honored. Either don't show it if not coloring, or color the white-space even if the file isn't syntax-highlighted. I would much prefer the latter.