--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -114,9 +114,10 @@ static const char *colorname[] = {
 
 /*
  * Default colors (colorname index)
- * foreground, background, cursor, reverse cursor
+ * foreground, default color for bold text, background, cursor, reverse cursor
  */
 unsigned int defaultfg = 7;
+unsigned int defaultbd = 15;
 unsigned int defaultbg = 0;
 static unsigned int defaultcs = 256;
 static unsigned int defaultrcs = 257;
diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index ede7ae6..e67ef3b 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -1351,6 +1351,7 @@ tsetattr(int *attr, int l)
 	for (i = 0; i < l; i++) {
 		switch (attr[i]) {
 		case 0:
+			term.c.attr.colored = 0;
 			term.c.attr.mode &= ~(
 				ATTR_BOLD       |
 				ATTR_FAINT      |
@@ -1365,6 +1366,8 @@ tsetattr(int *attr, int l)
 			break;
 		case 1:
 			term.c.attr.mode |= ATTR_BOLD;
+			if (!term.c.attr.colored)
+				term.c.attr.fg = defaultbd;
 			break;
 		case 2:
 			term.c.attr.mode |= ATTR_FAINT;
@@ -1411,11 +1414,18 @@ tsetattr(int *attr, int l)
 			term.c.attr.mode &= ~ATTR_STRUCK;
 			break;
 		case 38:
-			if ((idx = tdefcolor(attr, &i, l)) >= 0)
+			if ((idx = tdefcolor(attr, &i, l)) >= 0) {
+				term.c.attr.colored = 1;
 				term.c.attr.fg = idx;
+			}
 			break;
 		case 39:
-			term.c.attr.fg = defaultfg;
+			term.c.attr.colored = 0;
+			if (term.c.attr.mode & ATTR_BOLD) {
+				term.c.attr.fg = defaultbd;
+			} else {
+				term.c.attr.fg = defaultfg;
+			}
 			break;
 		case 48:
 			if ((idx = tdefcolor(attr, &i, l)) >= 0)
@@ -1426,10 +1436,12 @@ tsetattr(int *attr, int l)
 			break;
 		default:
 			if (BETWEEN(attr[i], 30, 37)) {
+				term.c.attr.colored = 1;
 				term.c.attr.fg = attr[i] - 30;
 			} else if (BETWEEN(attr[i], 40, 47)) {
 				term.c.attr.bg = attr[i] - 40;
 			} else if (BETWEEN(attr[i], 90, 97)) {
+				term.c.attr.colored = 1;
 				term.c.attr.fg = attr[i] - 90 + 8;
 			} else if (BETWEEN(attr[i], 100, 107)) {
 				term.c.attr.bg = attr[i] - 100 + 8;
diff --git a/st.h b/st.h
index 4da3051..06de8ac 100644
--- a/st.h
+++ b/st.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	ushort mode;      /* attribute flags */
 	uint32_t fg;      /* foreground  */
 	uint32_t bg;      /* background  */
+	int colored;      /* tell if the text color set explicitly */
 } Glyph;
 
 typedef Glyph *Line;
@@ -119,4 +120,5 @@ extern int allowaltscreen;
 extern char *termname;
 extern unsigned int tabspaces;
 extern unsigned int defaultfg;
+extern unsigned int defaultbd;
 extern unsigned int defaultbg;