diff --git a/payloads/libpayload/curses/pdcurses-backend/pdcsetsc.c b/payloads/libpayload/curses/pdcurses-backend/pdcsetsc.c
index 49d66abcb9..f0e83cf3cf 100644
--- a/payloads/libpayload/curses/pdcurses-backend/pdcsetsc.c
+++ b/payloads/libpayload/curses/pdcurses-backend/pdcsetsc.c
@@ -28,5 +28,8 @@ int PDC_curs_set(int visibility)
 
 int PDC_set_blink(bool blinkon)
 {
+	if (pdc_color_started)
+		COLORS = 16;
+
 	return ERR;
 }