diff --git a/src/ncurses_ui.cc b/src/ncurses_ui.cc
index 0b221e34..58317224 100644
--- a/src/ncurses_ui.cc
+++ b/src/ncurses_ui.cc
@@ -71,6 +71,85 @@ static bool operator<(Color lhs, Color rhs)
 
 template<typename T> T sq(T x) { return x * x; }
 
+constexpr struct { unsigned char r, g, b; } builtin_colors[] = {
+    {0x00,0x00,0x00}, {0x80,0x00,0x00}, {0x00,0x80,0x00}, {0x80,0x80,0x00},
+    {0x00,0x00,0x80}, {0x80,0x00,0x80}, {0x00,0x80,0x80}, {0xc0,0xc0,0xc0},
+    {0x80,0x80,0x80}, {0xff,0x00,0x00}, {0x00,0xff,0x00}, {0xff,0xff,0x00},
+    {0x00,0x00,0xff}, {0xff,0x00,0xff}, {0x00,0xff,0xff}, {0xff,0xff,0xff},
+    {0x00,0x00,0x00}, {0x00,0x00,0x5f}, {0x00,0x00,0x87}, {0x00,0x00,0xaf},
+    {0x00,0x00,0xd7}, {0x00,0x00,0xff}, {0x00,0x5f,0x00}, {0x00,0x5f,0x5f},
+    {0x00,0x5f,0x87}, {0x00,0x5f,0xaf}, {0x00,0x5f,0xd7}, {0x00,0x5f,0xff},
+    {0x00,0x87,0x00}, {0x00,0x87,0x5f}, {0x00,0x87,0x87}, {0x00,0x87,0xaf},
+    {0x00,0x87,0xd7}, {0x00,0x87,0xff}, {0x00,0xaf,0x00}, {0x00,0xaf,0x5f},
+    {0x00,0xaf,0x87}, {0x00,0xaf,0xaf}, {0x00,0xaf,0xd7}, {0x00,0xaf,0xff},
+    {0x00,0xd7,0x00}, {0x00,0xd7,0x5f}, {0x00,0xd7,0x87}, {0x00,0xd7,0xaf},
+    {0x00,0xd7,0xd7}, {0x00,0xd7,0xff}, {0x00,0xff,0x00}, {0x00,0xff,0x5f},
+    {0x00,0xff,0x87}, {0x00,0xff,0xaf}, {0x00,0xff,0xd7}, {0x00,0xff,0xff},
+    {0x5f,0x00,0x00}, {0x5f,0x00,0x5f}, {0x5f,0x00,0x87}, {0x5f,0x00,0xaf},
+    {0x5f,0x00,0xd7}, {0x5f,0x00,0xff}, {0x5f,0x5f,0x00}, {0x5f,0x5f,0x5f},
+    {0x5f,0x5f,0x87}, {0x5f,0x5f,0xaf}, {0x5f,0x5f,0xd7}, {0x5f,0x5f,0xff},
+    {0x5f,0x87,0x00}, {0x5f,0x87,0x5f}, {0x5f,0x87,0x87}, {0x5f,0x87,0xaf},
+    {0x5f,0x87,0xd7}, {0x5f,0x87,0xff}, {0x5f,0xaf,0x00}, {0x5f,0xaf,0x5f},
+    {0x5f,0xaf,0x87}, {0x5f,0xaf,0xaf}, {0x5f,0xaf,0xd7}, {0x5f,0xaf,0xff},
+    {0x5f,0xd7,0x00}, {0x5f,0xd7,0x5f}, {0x5f,0xd7,0x87}, {0x5f,0xd7,0xaf},
+    {0x5f,0xd7,0xd7}, {0x5f,0xd7,0xff}, {0x5f,0xff,0x00}, {0x5f,0xff,0x5f},
+    {0x5f,0xff,0x87}, {0x5f,0xff,0xaf}, {0x5f,0xff,0xd7}, {0x5f,0xff,0xff},
+    {0x87,0x00,0x00}, {0x87,0x00,0x5f}, {0x87,0x00,0x87}, {0x87,0x00,0xaf},
+    {0x87,0x00,0xd7}, {0x87,0x00,0xff}, {0x87,0x5f,0x00}, {0x87,0x5f,0x5f},
+    {0x87,0x5f,0x87}, {0x87,0x5f,0xaf}, {0x87,0x5f,0xd7}, {0x87,0x5f,0xff},
+    {0x87,0x87,0x00}, {0x87,0x87,0x5f}, {0x87,0x87,0x87}, {0x87,0x87,0xaf},
+    {0x87,0x87,0xd7}, {0x87,0x87,0xff}, {0x87,0xaf,0x00}, {0x87,0xaf,0x5f},
+    {0x87,0xaf,0x87}, {0x87,0xaf,0xaf}, {0x87,0xaf,0xd7}, {0x87,0xaf,0xff},
+    {0x87,0xd7,0x00}, {0x87,0xd7,0x5f}, {0x87,0xd7,0x87}, {0x87,0xd7,0xaf},
+    {0x87,0xd7,0xd7}, {0x87,0xd7,0xff}, {0x87,0xff,0x00}, {0x87,0xff,0x5f},
+    {0x87,0xff,0x87}, {0x87,0xff,0xaf}, {0x87,0xff,0xd7}, {0x87,0xff,0xff},
+    {0xaf,0x00,0x00}, {0xaf,0x00,0x5f}, {0xaf,0x00,0x87}, {0xaf,0x00,0xaf},
+    {0xaf,0x00,0xd7}, {0xaf,0x00,0xff}, {0xaf,0x5f,0x00}, {0xaf,0x5f,0x5f},
+    {0xaf,0x5f,0x87}, {0xaf,0x5f,0xaf}, {0xaf,0x5f,0xd7}, {0xaf,0x5f,0xff},
+    {0xaf,0x87,0x00}, {0xaf,0x87,0x5f}, {0xaf,0x87,0x87}, {0xaf,0x87,0xaf},
+    {0xaf,0x87,0xd7}, {0xaf,0x87,0xff}, {0xaf,0xaf,0x00}, {0xaf,0xaf,0x5f},
+    {0xaf,0xaf,0x87}, {0xaf,0xaf,0xaf}, {0xaf,0xaf,0xd7}, {0xaf,0xaf,0xff},
+    {0xaf,0xd7,0x00}, {0xaf,0xd7,0x5f}, {0xaf,0xd7,0x87}, {0xaf,0xd7,0xaf},
+    {0xaf,0xd7,0xd7}, {0xaf,0xd7,0xff}, {0xaf,0xff,0x00}, {0xaf,0xff,0x5f},
+    {0xaf,0xff,0x87}, {0xaf,0xff,0xaf}, {0xaf,0xff,0xd7}, {0xaf,0xff,0xff},
+    {0xd7,0x00,0x00}, {0xd7,0x00,0x5f}, {0xd7,0x00,0x87}, {0xd7,0x00,0xaf},
+    {0xd7,0x00,0xd7}, {0xd7,0x00,0xff}, {0xd7,0x5f,0x00}, {0xd7,0x5f,0x5f},
+    {0xd7,0x5f,0x87}, {0xd7,0x5f,0xaf}, {0xd7,0x5f,0xd7}, {0xd7,0x5f,0xff},
+    {0xd7,0x87,0x00}, {0xd7,0x87,0x5f}, {0xd7,0x87,0x87}, {0xd7,0x87,0xaf},
+    {0xd7,0x87,0xd7}, {0xd7,0x87,0xff}, {0xd7,0xaf,0x00}, {0xd7,0xaf,0x5f},
+    {0xd7,0xaf,0x87}, {0xd7,0xaf,0xaf}, {0xd7,0xaf,0xd7}, {0xd7,0xaf,0xff},
+    {0xd7,0xd7,0x00}, {0xd7,0xd7,0x5f}, {0xd7,0xd7,0x87}, {0xd7,0xd7,0xaf},
+    {0xd7,0xd7,0xd7}, {0xd7,0xd7,0xff}, {0xd7,0xff,0x00}, {0xd7,0xff,0x5f},
+    {0xd7,0xff,0x87}, {0xd7,0xff,0xaf}, {0xd7,0xff,0xd7}, {0xd7,0xff,0xff},
+    {0xff,0x00,0x00}, {0xff,0x00,0x5f}, {0xff,0x00,0x87}, {0xff,0x00,0xaf},
+    {0xff,0x00,0xd7}, {0xff,0x00,0xff}, {0xff,0x5f,0x00}, {0xff,0x5f,0x5f},
+    {0xff,0x5f,0x87}, {0xff,0x5f,0xaf}, {0xff,0x5f,0xd7}, {0xff,0x5f,0xff},
+    {0xff,0x87,0x00}, {0xff,0x87,0x5f}, {0xff,0x87,0x87}, {0xff,0x87,0xaf},
+    {0xff,0x87,0xd7}, {0xff,0x87,0xff}, {0xff,0xaf,0x00}, {0xff,0xaf,0x5f},
+    {0xff,0xaf,0x87}, {0xff,0xaf,0xaf}, {0xff,0xaf,0xd7}, {0xff,0xaf,0xff},
+    {0xff,0xd7,0x00}, {0xff,0xd7,0x5f}, {0xff,0xd7,0x87}, {0xff,0xd7,0xaf},
+    {0xff,0xd7,0xd7}, {0xff,0xd7,0xff}, {0xff,0xff,0x00}, {0xff,0xff,0x5f},
+    {0xff,0xff,0x87}, {0xff,0xff,0xaf}, {0xff,0xff,0xd7}, {0xff,0xff,0xff},
+    {0x08,0x08,0x08}, {0x12,0x12,0x12}, {0x1c,0x1c,0x1c}, {0x26,0x26,0x26},
+    {0x30,0x30,0x30}, {0x3a,0x3a,0x3a}, {0x44,0x44,0x44}, {0x4e,0x4e,0x4e},
+    {0x58,0x58,0x58}, {0x60,0x60,0x60}, {0x66,0x66,0x66}, {0x76,0x76,0x76},
+    {0x80,0x80,0x80}, {0x8a,0x8a,0x8a}, {0x94,0x94,0x94}, {0x9e,0x9e,0x9e},
+    {0xa8,0xa8,0xa8}, {0xb2,0xb2,0xb2}, {0xbc,0xbc,0xbc}, {0xc6,0xc6,0xc6},
+    {0xd0,0xd0,0xd0}, {0xda,0xda,0xda}, {0xe4,0xe4,0xe4}, {0xee,0xee,0xee},
+};
+
+static void restore_colors()
+{
+    if (not can_change_color())
+        return;
+
+    for (size_t i = 8; i < COLORS; ++i)
+    {
+        auto& c = builtin_colors[i];
+        init_color(i, c.r * 1000 / 255, c.g * 1000 / 255, c.b * 1000 / 255);
+    }
+}
+
 static int nc_color(Color color)
 {
     static std::map<Color, int> colors = {
@@ -104,72 +183,6 @@ static int nc_color(Color color)
     else
     {
         kak_assert(color.color == Color::RGB);
-        static const struct { unsigned char r, g, b; } builtin_colors[] = {
-            {0x00,0x00,0x00}, {0x80,0x00,0x00}, {0x00,0x80,0x00}, {0x80,0x80,0x00},
-            {0x00,0x00,0x80}, {0x80,0x00,0x80}, {0x00,0x80,0x80}, {0xc0,0xc0,0xc0},
-            {0x80,0x80,0x80}, {0xff,0x00,0x00}, {0x00,0xff,0x00}, {0xff,0xff,0x00},
-            {0x00,0x00,0xff}, {0xff,0x00,0xff}, {0x00,0xff,0xff}, {0xff,0xff,0xff},
-            {0x00,0x00,0x00}, {0x00,0x00,0x5f}, {0x00,0x00,0x87}, {0x00,0x00,0xaf},
-            {0x00,0x00,0xd7}, {0x00,0x00,0xff}, {0x00,0x5f,0x00}, {0x00,0x5f,0x5f},
-            {0x00,0x5f,0x87}, {0x00,0x5f,0xaf}, {0x00,0x5f,0xd7}, {0x00,0x5f,0xff},
-            {0x00,0x87,0x00}, {0x00,0x87,0x5f}, {0x00,0x87,0x87}, {0x00,0x87,0xaf},
-            {0x00,0x87,0xd7}, {0x00,0x87,0xff}, {0x00,0xaf,0x00}, {0x00,0xaf,0x5f},
-            {0x00,0xaf,0x87}, {0x00,0xaf,0xaf}, {0x00,0xaf,0xd7}, {0x00,0xaf,0xff},
-            {0x00,0xd7,0x00}, {0x00,0xd7,0x5f}, {0x00,0xd7,0x87}, {0x00,0xd7,0xaf},
-            {0x00,0xd7,0xd7}, {0x00,0xd7,0xff}, {0x00,0xff,0x00}, {0x00,0xff,0x5f},
-            {0x00,0xff,0x87}, {0x00,0xff,0xaf}, {0x00,0xff,0xd7}, {0x00,0xff,0xff},
-            {0x5f,0x00,0x00}, {0x5f,0x00,0x5f}, {0x5f,0x00,0x87}, {0x5f,0x00,0xaf},
-            {0x5f,0x00,0xd7}, {0x5f,0x00,0xff}, {0x5f,0x5f,0x00}, {0x5f,0x5f,0x5f},
-            {0x5f,0x5f,0x87}, {0x5f,0x5f,0xaf}, {0x5f,0x5f,0xd7}, {0x5f,0x5f,0xff},
-            {0x5f,0x87,0x00}, {0x5f,0x87,0x5f}, {0x5f,0x87,0x87}, {0x5f,0x87,0xaf},
-            {0x5f,0x87,0xd7}, {0x5f,0x87,0xff}, {0x5f,0xaf,0x00}, {0x5f,0xaf,0x5f},
-            {0x5f,0xaf,0x87}, {0x5f,0xaf,0xaf}, {0x5f,0xaf,0xd7}, {0x5f,0xaf,0xff},
-            {0x5f,0xd7,0x00}, {0x5f,0xd7,0x5f}, {0x5f,0xd7,0x87}, {0x5f,0xd7,0xaf},
-            {0x5f,0xd7,0xd7}, {0x5f,0xd7,0xff}, {0x5f,0xff,0x00}, {0x5f,0xff,0x5f},
-            {0x5f,0xff,0x87}, {0x5f,0xff,0xaf}, {0x5f,0xff,0xd7}, {0x5f,0xff,0xff},
-            {0x87,0x00,0x00}, {0x87,0x00,0x5f}, {0x87,0x00,0x87}, {0x87,0x00,0xaf},
-            {0x87,0x00,0xd7}, {0x87,0x00,0xff}, {0x87,0x5f,0x00}, {0x87,0x5f,0x5f},
-            {0x87,0x5f,0x87}, {0x87,0x5f,0xaf}, {0x87,0x5f,0xd7}, {0x87,0x5f,0xff},
-            {0x87,0x87,0x00}, {0x87,0x87,0x5f}, {0x87,0x87,0x87}, {0x87,0x87,0xaf},
-            {0x87,0x87,0xd7}, {0x87,0x87,0xff}, {0x87,0xaf,0x00}, {0x87,0xaf,0x5f},
-            {0x87,0xaf,0x87}, {0x87,0xaf,0xaf}, {0x87,0xaf,0xd7}, {0x87,0xaf,0xff},
-            {0x87,0xd7,0x00}, {0x87,0xd7,0x5f}, {0x87,0xd7,0x87}, {0x87,0xd7,0xaf},
-            {0x87,0xd7,0xd7}, {0x87,0xd7,0xff}, {0x87,0xff,0x00}, {0x87,0xff,0x5f},
-            {0x87,0xff,0x87}, {0x87,0xff,0xaf}, {0x87,0xff,0xd7}, {0x87,0xff,0xff},
-            {0xaf,0x00,0x00}, {0xaf,0x00,0x5f}, {0xaf,0x00,0x87}, {0xaf,0x00,0xaf},
-            {0xaf,0x00,0xd7}, {0xaf,0x00,0xff}, {0xaf,0x5f,0x00}, {0xaf,0x5f,0x5f},
-            {0xaf,0x5f,0x87}, {0xaf,0x5f,0xaf}, {0xaf,0x5f,0xd7}, {0xaf,0x5f,0xff},
-            {0xaf,0x87,0x00}, {0xaf,0x87,0x5f}, {0xaf,0x87,0x87}, {0xaf,0x87,0xaf},
-            {0xaf,0x87,0xd7}, {0xaf,0x87,0xff}, {0xaf,0xaf,0x00}, {0xaf,0xaf,0x5f},
-            {0xaf,0xaf,0x87}, {0xaf,0xaf,0xaf}, {0xaf,0xaf,0xd7}, {0xaf,0xaf,0xff},
-            {0xaf,0xd7,0x00}, {0xaf,0xd7,0x5f}, {0xaf,0xd7,0x87}, {0xaf,0xd7,0xaf},
-            {0xaf,0xd7,0xd7}, {0xaf,0xd7,0xff}, {0xaf,0xff,0x00}, {0xaf,0xff,0x5f},
-            {0xaf,0xff,0x87}, {0xaf,0xff,0xaf}, {0xaf,0xff,0xd7}, {0xaf,0xff,0xff},
-            {0xd7,0x00,0x00}, {0xd7,0x00,0x5f}, {0xd7,0x00,0x87}, {0xd7,0x00,0xaf},
-            {0xd7,0x00,0xd7}, {0xd7,0x00,0xff}, {0xd7,0x5f,0x00}, {0xd7,0x5f,0x5f},
-            {0xd7,0x5f,0x87}, {0xd7,0x5f,0xaf}, {0xd7,0x5f,0xd7}, {0xd7,0x5f,0xff},
-            {0xd7,0x87,0x00}, {0xd7,0x87,0x5f}, {0xd7,0x87,0x87}, {0xd7,0x87,0xaf},
-            {0xd7,0x87,0xd7}, {0xd7,0x87,0xff}, {0xd7,0xaf,0x00}, {0xd7,0xaf,0x5f},
-            {0xd7,0xaf,0x87}, {0xd7,0xaf,0xaf}, {0xd7,0xaf,0xd7}, {0xd7,0xaf,0xff},
-            {0xd7,0xd7,0x00}, {0xd7,0xd7,0x5f}, {0xd7,0xd7,0x87}, {0xd7,0xd7,0xaf},
-            {0xd7,0xd7,0xd7}, {0xd7,0xd7,0xff}, {0xd7,0xff,0x00}, {0xd7,0xff,0x5f},
-            {0xd7,0xff,0x87}, {0xd7,0xff,0xaf}, {0xd7,0xff,0xd7}, {0xd7,0xff,0xff},
-            {0xff,0x00,0x00}, {0xff,0x00,0x5f}, {0xff,0x00,0x87}, {0xff,0x00,0xaf},
-            {0xff,0x00,0xd7}, {0xff,0x00,0xff}, {0xff,0x5f,0x00}, {0xff,0x5f,0x5f},
-            {0xff,0x5f,0x87}, {0xff,0x5f,0xaf}, {0xff,0x5f,0xd7}, {0xff,0x5f,0xff},
-            {0xff,0x87,0x00}, {0xff,0x87,0x5f}, {0xff,0x87,0x87}, {0xff,0x87,0xaf},
-            {0xff,0x87,0xd7}, {0xff,0x87,0xff}, {0xff,0xaf,0x00}, {0xff,0xaf,0x5f},
-            {0xff,0xaf,0x87}, {0xff,0xaf,0xaf}, {0xff,0xaf,0xd7}, {0xff,0xaf,0xff},
-            {0xff,0xd7,0x00}, {0xff,0xd7,0x5f}, {0xff,0xd7,0x87}, {0xff,0xd7,0xaf},
-            {0xff,0xd7,0xd7}, {0xff,0xd7,0xff}, {0xff,0xff,0x00}, {0xff,0xff,0x5f},
-            {0xff,0xff,0x87}, {0xff,0xff,0xaf}, {0xff,0xff,0xd7}, {0xff,0xff,0xff},
-            {0x08,0x08,0x08}, {0x12,0x12,0x12}, {0x1c,0x1c,0x1c}, {0x26,0x26,0x26},
-            {0x30,0x30,0x30}, {0x3a,0x3a,0x3a}, {0x44,0x44,0x44}, {0x4e,0x4e,0x4e},
-            {0x58,0x58,0x58}, {0x60,0x60,0x60}, {0x66,0x66,0x66}, {0x76,0x76,0x76},
-            {0x80,0x80,0x80}, {0x8a,0x8a,0x8a}, {0x94,0x94,0x94}, {0x9e,0x9e,0x9e},
-            {0xa8,0xa8,0xa8}, {0xb2,0xb2,0xb2}, {0xbc,0xbc,0xbc}, {0xc6,0xc6,0xc6},
-            {0xd0,0xd0,0xd0}, {0xda,0xda,0xda}, {0xe4,0xe4,0xe4}, {0xee,0xee,0xee},
-        };
         int lowestDist = INT_MAX;
         int closestCol = -1;
         for (int i = 0; i < std::min(256, COLORS); ++i)
@@ -277,6 +290,7 @@ NCursesUI::~NCursesUI()
     puts("\033[?1004l");
     puts("\033[?1002l");
     endwin();
+    restore_colors();
     signal(SIGWINCH, SIG_DFL);
     signal(SIGINT, SIG_DFL);
 }