diff --git a/src/term.c b/src/term.c
index 9cc480e..84d6bd5 100644
--- a/src/term.c
+++ b/src/term.c
@@ -3084,7 +3084,8 @@
     void
 term_bg_rgb_color(guicolor_T rgb)
 {
-    term_rgb_color(T_8B, rgb);
+    if (rgb != INVALCOLOR)
+	term_rgb_color(T_8B, rgb);
 }
 
     void