diff --git a/kittens/diff/diff.conf b/kittens/diff/diff.conf
index ac4450d9c..65a38fa81 100644
--- a/kittens/diff/diff.conf
+++ b/kittens/diff/diff.conf
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 # file.abc use a setting of xyz:abc
 syntax_aliases pyj:py recipe:py
 
+# The pygments color scheme to use. See https://help.farbox.com/pygments.html
+# for a list of schemes.
+pygments_style default
+
 # Colors
 foreground            black
 background            white
diff --git a/kittens/diff/main.py b/kittens/diff/main.py
index e72d7ac39..667bb673c 100644
--- a/kittens/diff/main.py
+++ b/kittens/diff/main.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class DiffHandler(Handler):
             self.draw_screen()
             if initialize_highlighter is not None and not self.highlighting_done:
                 self.highlighting_done = True
-                initialize_highlighter()
+                initialize_highlighter(self.opts.pygments_style)
                 self.start_job('highlight', highlight_collection, self.collection, self.opts.syntax_aliases)
         elif job_id == 'highlight':
             hdata = job_result['result']