diff --git a/functions/_tide_left_prompt.fish b/functions/_tide_left_prompt.fish
index 713b9a4..ea0d532 100644
--- a/functions/_tide_left_prompt.fish
+++ b/functions/_tide_left_prompt.fish
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ function _tide_left_prompt
 
             set -l colorName tide_"$item"_bg_color
             set -l color $$colorName
+            if test -z "$color"
+                set color normal
+            end
 
             if set -e lastItemWasNewline || set -e lastItemWasPromptChar
                 if test "$item" != 'prompt_char'
diff --git a/functions/_tide_right_prompt.fish b/functions/_tide_right_prompt.fish
index bbb581e..2196790 100644
--- a/functions/_tide_right_prompt.fish
+++ b/functions/_tide_right_prompt.fish
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ function _tide_fetch_right_prompt_items
         if test -n "$output"
             set -l colorName tide_"$item"_bg_color
             set -l color $$colorName
+            if test -z "$color"
+                set color normal
+            end
 
             if set -e lastItemWasNewline
                 set_color $color -b normal