diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 33e64afd..e074583b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 * Dedicated bell section in config, supporting multiple actions and
   a new `command` action to run an arbitrary command.
   (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/pulls/483)
+* Support for setting the full 256 color palette in foot.ini
+  (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/489)
 
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index bf6e125a..8dcdd51e 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -902,7 +902,20 @@ parse_section_colors(const char *key, const char *value, struct config *conf,
 {
     uint32_t *color = NULL;
 
-    if (strcmp(key, "foreground") == 0)      color = &conf->colors.fg;
+    if (isdigit(key[0])) {
+        unsigned long index;
+        if (!str_to_ulong(key, 0, &index)) {
+            LOG_AND_NOTIFY_ERR("%s:%d: [colors]: invalid numeric key", path, lineno);
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (index >= ALEN(conf->colors.table)) {
+            LOG_AND_NOTIFY_ERR("%s:%d: [colors]: numeric key out of range", path, lineno);
+            return false;
+        }
+        color = &conf->colors.table[index];
+    }
+
+    else if (strcmp(key, "foreground") == 0) color = &conf->colors.fg;
     else if (strcmp(key, "background") == 0) color = &conf->colors.bg;
     else if (strcmp(key, "regular0") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.table[0];
     else if (strcmp(key, "regular1") == 0)   color = &conf->colors.table[1];
diff --git a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
index 1030c841..abe90fc7 100644
--- a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
+++ b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
@@ -375,9 +375,9 @@ applications can change these at runtime.
 
 # SECTION: colors
 
-This section controls the 16 ANSI colors and the default foreground
-and background colors. Note that applications can change these at
-runtime.
+This section controls the 16 ANSI colors, the default foreground
+and background colors, and the extended 256 color palette. Note that 
+applications can change these at runtime.
 
 The colors are in RRGGBB format. That is, they do *not* have an alpha
 component. You can configure the background transparency with the
@@ -401,6 +401,12 @@ _alpha_ option.
 	_bfebbf_, _f0dfaf_, _8cd0d3_, _fcace3_, _b3ffff_ and _ffffff_ (a
 	variant of the _zenburn_ theme).
 
+*0* *..* *255*
+	Arbitrary colors in the 256-color palette. Default: for *0* *..*
+	*15*, see regular and bright defaults above; see
+	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code#8-bit for an
+	explanation of the remainder.
+
 *alpha*
 	Background translucency. A value in the range 0.0-1.0, where 0.0
 	means completely transparent, and 1.0 is opaque. Default: _1.0_.
diff --git a/foot.ini b/foot.ini
index 6f0948a2..9e5c4e79 100644
--- a/foot.ini
+++ b/foot.ini
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@
 # bright5=fcace3   # bright magenta
 # bright6=b3ffff   # bright cyan
 # bright7=ffffff   # bright white
+# 16 = <256-color palette #16>
+# ...
+# 255 = <256-color palette #255>
 # selection-foreground=<inverse foreground/background>
 # selection-background=<inverse foreground/background>
 # jump-labels=<regular0> <regular3>