diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index e85d669b..b1c56bbc 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -419,14 +419,13 @@ cursor_colors_for_cell(const struct terminal *term, const struct cell *cell,
         }
     } else {
         *cursor_color = *fg;
+        *text_color = *bg;
 
         if (unlikely(text_color->alpha != 0xffff)) {
-            /* We *know* this only happens when bg is the default bg
-             * color */
-            *text_color = color_hex_to_pixman(
-                term->reverse ^ is_selected ? term->colors.fg : term->colors.bg);
-        } else
-            *text_color = *bg;
+            /* The *only* color that can have transparency is the
+             * default background color */
+            *text_color = color_hex_to_pixman(term->colors.bg);
+        }
     }
 }