diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 0179c74c5..094b1164d 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - Special case rendering of the few remaining Powerline box drawing chars
   (:iss:`3535`)
 
+- Fix ``kitty @ set-colors`` not working for the :opt:`active_tab_foreground`.
+
 
 0.20.1 [2021-04-19]
 ----------------------
diff --git a/kitty/tab_bar.py b/kitty/tab_bar.py
index 50b847169..a4cb98414 100644
--- a/kitty/tab_bar.py
+++ b/kitty/tab_bar.py
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ class TabBar:
     def patch_colors(self, spec: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         if 'active_tab_foreground' in spec:
             self.active_fg = (spec['active_tab_foreground'] << 8) | 2
+            self.draw_data = self.draw_data._replace(active_fg=color_from_int(spec['active_tab_foreground']))
         if 'active_tab_background' in spec:
             self.active_bg = (spec['active_tab_background'] << 8) | 2
             self.draw_data = self.draw_data._replace(active_bg=color_from_int(spec['active_tab_background']))