diff --git a/st.h b/st.h
index 3d351b6..03f5206 100644
--- a/st.h
+++ b/st.h
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ extern wchar_t *worddelimiters;
 extern int allowaltscreen;
 extern int allowwindowops;
 extern char *termname;
+extern int usealtcolors;
 extern unsigned int tabspaces;
 extern unsigned int defaultfg;
 extern unsigned int defaultbg;
diff --git a/x.c b/x.c
index 210f184..d94c42b 100644
--- a/x.c
+++ b/x.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ static void clipcopy(const Arg *);
 static void clippaste(const Arg *);
 static void numlock(const Arg *);
 static void selpaste(const Arg *);
+static void swapcolors(const Arg *);
 static void zoom(const Arg *);
 static void zoomabs(const Arg *);
 static void zoomreset(const Arg *);
@@ -254,6 +255,8 @@ static char *opt_title = NULL;
 
 static int oldbutton = 3; /* button event on startup: 3 = release */
 
+int usealtcolors = 0; /* 1 to use alternate palette */
+
 void
 clipcopy(const Arg *dummy)
 {
@@ -292,6 +295,14 @@ numlock(const Arg *dummy)
 	win.mode ^= MODE_NUMLOCK;
 }
 
+void
+swapcolors(const Arg *dummy)
+{
+ usealtcolors = !usealtcolors;
+ xloadcols();
+ redraw();
+}
+
 void
 zoom(const Arg *arg)
 {
@@ -748,6 +759,11 @@ sixd_to_16bit(int x)
 	return x == 0 ? 0 : 0x3737 + 0x2828 * x;
 }
 
+const char* getcolorname(int i)
+{
+    return (usealtcolors) ?  altcolorname[i] : colorname[i];
+}
+
 int
 xloadcolor(int i, const char *name, Color *ncolor)
 {
@@ -766,7 +782,7 @@ xloadcolor(int i, const char *name, Color *ncolor)
 			return XftColorAllocValue(xw.dpy, xw.vis,
 			                          xw.cmap, &color, ncolor);
 		} else
-			name = colorname[i];
+			name = getcolorname(i);
 	}
 
 	return XftColorAllocName(xw.dpy, xw.vis, xw.cmap, name, ncolor);
@@ -789,8 +805,8 @@ xloadcols(void)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < dc.collen; i++)
 		if (!xloadcolor(i, NULL, &dc.col[i])) {
-			if (colorname[i])
-				die("could not allocate color '%s'\n", colorname[i]);
+			if (getcolorname(i))
+				die("could not allocate color '%s'\n", getcolorname(i));
 			else
 				die("could not allocate color %d\n", i);
 		}
@@ -1169,13 +1185,13 @@ xinit(int cols, int rows)
 	cursor = XCreateFontCursor(xw.dpy, mouseshape);
 	XDefineCursor(xw.dpy, xw.win, cursor);
 
-	if (XParseColor(xw.dpy, xw.cmap, colorname[mousefg], &xmousefg) == 0) {
+	if (XParseColor(xw.dpy, xw.cmap, getcolorname(mousefg), &xmousefg) == 0) {
 		xmousefg.red   = 0xffff;
 		xmousefg.green = 0xffff;
 		xmousefg.blue  = 0xffff;
 	}
 
-	if (XParseColor(xw.dpy, xw.cmap, colorname[mousebg], &xmousebg) == 0) {
+	if (XParseColor(xw.dpy, xw.cmap, getcolorname(mousebg), &xmousebg) == 0) {
 		xmousebg.red   = 0x0000;
 		xmousebg.green = 0x0000;
 		xmousebg.blue  = 0x0000;