diff --git a/kittens/diff/config_data.py b/kittens/diff/config_data.py
index 17c7af37f..bb02e6ec4 100644
--- a/kittens/diff/config_data.py
+++ b/kittens/diff/config_data.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ c('hunk_bg', '#f1f8ff')
 c('search_bg', '#444', long_text=_('Highlighting'))
 c('search_fg', 'white')
 c('select_bg', '#b4d5fe')
-c('select_fg', 'black')
+o('select_fg', 'black', option_type=to_color_or_none)
 
 g('shortcuts')
 k('quit', 'q', 'quit', _('Quit'))
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index 4eed7c9cf..ce0dd55d8 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -1025,14 +1025,7 @@ o('dim_opacity', 0.75, option_type=unit_float, long_text=_('''
 How much to dim text that has the DIM/FAINT attribute set. One means no dimming and
 zero means fully dimmed (i.e. invisible).'''))
 
-
-def selection_foreground(x: str) -> Optional[Color]:
-    if x.lower() != 'none':
-        return to_color(x)
-    return None
-
-
-o('selection_foreground', '#000000', option_type=selection_foreground, long_text=_('''
+o('selection_foreground', '#000000', option_type=to_color_or_none, long_text=_('''
 The foreground for text selected with the mouse. A value of none means to leave the color unchanged.'''))
 o('selection_background', '#fffacd', option_type=to_color, long_text=_('''
 The background for text selected with the mouse.'''))