diff --git a/src/config/color.c b/src/config/color.c
index bc6595f2..d80b2b36 100644
--- a/src/config/color.c
+++ b/src/config/color.c
@@ -398,6 +398,13 @@ int color_pair_cache_get(const char *pair_name)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    if (COLORS < 256) {
+        if (fg > 7 || bg > 7) {
+            log_error("Color: trying to load 256 colour theme without capable terminal");
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
+
     /* try to find pair in cache */
     for (i = 0; i < cache.size; i++) {
         if (fg == cache.pairs[i].fg && bg == cache.pairs[i].bg) {
diff --git a/src/config/theme.c b/src/config/theme.c
index e0c9d541..ab0041d9 100644
--- a/src/config/theme.c
+++ b/src/config/theme.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include "config/theme.h"
 #include "config/preferences.h"
 #include "config/color.h"
+#include "ui/ui.h"
 
 static GString *theme_loc;
 static GKeyFile *theme;
@@ -809,7 +810,7 @@ theme_attrs(theme_item_t attrs)
     // lookup colour pair
     result = color_pair_cache_get(lookup_str->str);
     if (result < 0) {
-        log_error("Invalid color <%s>", lookup_str->str);
+        cons_show("Unable to load colour theme");
         result = 0;
     }
     g_string_free(lookup_str, TRUE);