diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index eac22fcbfb4b2f17bf3f4936c7fd3d4148996ff4..15f1bde8a4256f833c301b47aab3895636d6afe2 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -117,8 +117,9 @@ void initialize(int argc, char **argv)
 
     DBG("entering initialize\n");
 
-    gtk_init(&argc, &argv);
     progname = argv[0];
+    gtk_init(&argc, &argv);
+    gtk_widget_set_default_colormap (gdk_colormap_get_system ());
 
     dpy    = GDK_DISPLAY();
     root   = GDK_ROOT_WINDOW();