diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index c22600d..c433733 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -3004,7 +3004,11 @@ static const char *
 formatter_parse_mirc_color (struct formatter *self, const char *s)
 {
 	if (!isdigit_ascii (*s))
+	{
+		FORMATTER_ADD_ITEM (self, FG_COLOR, .color = -1);
+		FORMATTER_ADD_ITEM (self, BG_COLOR, .color = -1);
 		return s;
+	}
 
 	int fg = *s++ - '0';
 	if (isdigit_ascii (*s))