diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index fd09d72..593e50b 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ static const char *colorname[] = {
 static unsigned int defaultfg = 7;
 static unsigned int defaultbg = 0;
 static unsigned int defaultcs = 256;
-static unsigned int defaultrcs = 257;
+static unsigned int defaultrcs = 15;
+static unsigned int defaultselfg = 15;
+static unsigned int defaultselbg = 257;
 
 /*
  * Default shape of cursor
@@ -416,4 +418,3 @@ static Key key[] = {
 static uint selmasks[] = {
 	[SEL_RECTANGULAR] = Mod1Mask,
 };
-
diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 0536b6f..75a3b08 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -3852,7 +3852,7 @@ xdrawcursor(void)
 	/* remove the old cursor */
 	og = term.line[oldy][oldx];
 	if (ena_sel && selected(oldx, oldy))
-		og.mode ^= ATTR_REVERSE;
+		og.bg = defaultselbg;
 	xdrawglyph(og, oldx, oldy);
 
 	g.u = term.line[term.c.y][term.c.x].u;
@@ -3994,8 +3994,10 @@ drawregion(int x1, int y1, int x2, int y2)
 			new = term.line[y][x];
 			if (new.mode == ATTR_WDUMMY)
 				continue;
-			if (ena_sel && selected(x, y))
-				new.mode ^= ATTR_REVERSE;
+			if (ena_sel && selected(x, y)) {
+				new.fg = defaultselfg;
+				new.bg = defaultselbg;
+			}
 			if (i > 0 && ATTRCMP(base, new)) {
 				xdrawglyphfontspecs(specs, base, i, ox, y);
 				specs += i;
@@ -4412,4 +4414,3 @@ run:
 
 	return 0;
 }
-