--- config.def.h
+++ config.def.h
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ static const char *colorname[] = {
 	/* more colors can be added after 255 to use with DefaultXX */
 	"#cccccc",
 	"#555555",
+	"black",
+	"gray90",
 };
 
 
@@ -127,9 +129,10 @@ static const char *colorname[] = {
  * Default colors (colorname index)
  * foreground, background, cursor, reverse cursor
  */
-unsigned int defaultfg = 7;
-unsigned int defaultbg = 0;
-static unsigned int defaultcs = 256;
+
+unsigned int defaultbg = 258;
+unsigned int defaultfg = 259;
+unsigned int defaultcs = 256;
 static unsigned int defaultrcs = 257;
 
 /*
--- st.c
+++ st.c
@@ -1877,6 +1877,36 @@ strhandle(void)
 				}
 			}
 			return;
+		case 10: /* set foreground color */
+			if (narg < 2)
+				break;
+
+			p = strescseq.args[1];
+			if (xsetcolorname(defaultfg, p))
+				fprintf(stderr, "erresc: invalid foreground color %d\n", p);
+			else
+				redraw();
+			break;
+		case 11: /* set background color */
+			if (narg < 2)
+				break;
+
+			p = strescseq.args[1];
+			if (xsetcolorname(defaultbg, p))
+				fprintf(stderr, "erresc: invalid background color %d\n", p);
+			else
+				redraw();
+			break;
+		case 12: /* set cursor color */
+			if (narg < 2)
+				break;
+
+			p = strescseq.args[1];
+			if (xsetcolorname(defaultcs, p))
+				fprintf(stderr, "erresc: invalid cursor color %d\n", p);
+			else
+				redraw();
+			break;
 		case 4: /* color set */
 			if (narg < 3)
 				break;
--- st.h
+++ st.h
@@ -123,3 +123,4 @@ extern char *termname;
 extern unsigned int tabspaces;
 extern unsigned int defaultfg;
 extern unsigned int defaultbg;
+extern unsigned int defaultcs;