diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0da8880d..e9beff07 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -42,8 +42,10 @@
   (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/415).
 * Foot now tries much harder to keep URL jump labels inside the window
   geometry (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/443).
-* `bold-text-in-bright` now uses the corresponding bright palette
-  color when the color to brighten matches one of the base 8 colors
+* `bold-text-in-bright` may now be set to `palette-based`, in which
+  case it will use the corresponding bright palette color when the
+  color to brighten matches one of the base 8 colors, instead of
+  increasing the luminance
   (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/449).
 
 
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 653c3f8a..3aed1e7d 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -583,8 +583,15 @@ parse_section_main(const char *key, const char *value, struct config *conf,
         conf->resize_delay_ms = ms;
     }
 
-    else if (strcmp(key, "bold-text-in-bright") == 0)
-        conf->bold_in_bright = str_to_bool(value);
+    else if (strcmp(key, "bold-text-in-bright") == 0) {
+        if (strcmp(value, "palette-based") == 0) {
+            conf->bold_in_bright.enabled = true;
+            conf->bold_in_bright.palette_based = true;
+        } else {
+            conf->bold_in_bright.enabled = str_to_bool(value);
+            conf->bold_in_bright.palette_based = false;
+        }
+    }
 
     else if (strcmp(key, "bell") == 0) {
         if (strcmp(value, "set-urgency") == 0)
@@ -2193,7 +2200,10 @@ config_load(struct config *conf, const char *conf_path,
         .pad_x = 2,
         .pad_y = 2,
         .resize_delay_ms = 100,
-        .bold_in_bright = false,
+        .bold_in_bright = {
+            .enabled = false,
+            .palette_based = false,
+        },
         .bell_action = BELL_ACTION_NONE,
         .startup_mode = STARTUP_WINDOWED,
         .fonts = {tll_init(), tll_init(), tll_init(), tll_init()},
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index d64c5e98..06184658 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ struct config {
     bool center;
     uint16_t resize_delay_ms;
 
-    bool bold_in_bright;
+    struct {
+        bool enabled;
+        bool palette_based;
+    } bold_in_bright;
+
     enum {
         BELL_ACTION_NONE,
         BELL_ACTION_URGENT,
diff --git a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
index 675f9bf8..4af48307 100644
--- a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
+++ b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
@@ -200,8 +200,16 @@ in this order:
 	apply window management rules. Default: _foot_.
 
 *bold-text-in-bright*
-	Boolean. When enabled, bold text is rendered in a brighter color
-	(in addition to using a bold font). Default: _no_.
+	Semi-boolean. When enabled, bold text is rendered in a brighter
+	color (in addition to using a bold font). The color is brightened
+	by increasing its luminance.
+	
+	If set to *palette-based*, rather than a simple *yes|true*, colors
+	matching one of the 8 regular palette colors will be brightened
+	using the corresponding bright palette color. Other colors will be
+	brightened by increasing the luminance.
+	
+	Default: _no_.
 
 *bell*
 	Action to perform when receiving a *BEL* character. Can be set to
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index 3ca0deeb..5efc7c67 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -258,9 +258,11 @@ color_brighten(const struct terminal *term, uint32_t color)
      * First try to match the color against the base 8 colors. If we
      * find a match, return the corresponding bright color.
      */
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
-        if (term->colors.table[i] == color)
-            return term->colors.table[i + 8];
+    if (term->conf->bold_in_bright.palette_based) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+            if (term->colors.table[i] == color)
+                return term->colors.table[i + 8];
+        }
     }
 
     int hue, sat, lum;
@@ -443,7 +445,7 @@ render_cell(struct terminal *term, pixman_image_t *pix,
 
     if (cell->attrs.dim)
         _fg = color_dim(_fg);
-    if (term->conf->bold_in_bright && cell->attrs.bold)
+    if (term->conf->bold_in_bright.enabled && cell->attrs.bold)
         _fg = color_brighten(term, _fg);
 
     if (cell->attrs.blink && term->blink.state == BLINK_OFF)