diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 64e523a8fc6f26ee171f2c5c03ab93abeeded871..a21625cf4cc45d77f602ed41a34a3512e553ffb3 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -2473,6 +2473,17 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (initscr() == NULL)
 		exit(1);
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_COLOR
+	set_colorpairs();
+#else
+	interface_color_pair[TITLE_BAR] = hilite_attribute;
+	interface_color_pair[LINE_NUMBER] = hilite_attribute;
+	interface_color_pair[SELECTED_TEXT] = hilite_attribute;
+	interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR] = hilite_attribute;
+	interface_color_pair[KEY_COMBO] = hilite_attribute;
+	interface_color_pair[FUNCTION_TAG] = A_NORMAL;
+#endif
+
 	/* Set up the terminal state. */
 	terminal_init();
 
@@ -2494,17 +2505,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	mouse_init();
 #endif
 
-#ifdef ENABLE_COLOR
-	set_colorpairs();
-#else
-	interface_color_pair[TITLE_BAR] = hilite_attribute;
-	interface_color_pair[LINE_NUMBER] = hilite_attribute;
-	interface_color_pair[SELECTED_TEXT] = hilite_attribute;
-	interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR] = hilite_attribute;
-	interface_color_pair[KEY_COMBO] = hilite_attribute;
-	interface_color_pair[FUNCTION_TAG] = A_NORMAL;
-#endif
-
 	/* Ask ncurses for the key codes for Control+Left/Right/Up/Down. */
 	controlleft = get_keycode("kLFT5", CONTROL_LEFT);
 	controlright = get_keycode("kRIT5", CONTROL_RIGHT);