diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 34884c0..d664cc4 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ static unsigned int defaultbg = 0;
 static unsigned int defaultcs = 256;
 static unsigned int defaultucs = 257;
 
+#define DEFAULTITALIC 11
+
 /* Internal shortcuts. */
 #define MODKEY Mod1Mask
 
diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index afa6813..80dcd10 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -2752,6 +2752,9 @@ xdraws(char *s, Glyph base, int x, int y, int charlen, int bytelen) {
 	}
 
 	if(base.mode & ATTR_ITALIC) {
+        fg = &dc.col[DEFAULTITALIC];
+    }
+	if(base.mode & ATTR_ITALIC) {
 		font = &dc.ifont;
 		frcflags = FRC_ITALIC;
 	}