diff --git a/kitty/colors.c b/kitty/colors.c
index 3501064cf..f3d165e56 100644
--- a/kitty/colors.c
+++ b/kitty/colors.c
@@ -195,11 +195,11 @@ colorprofile_to_color(ColorProfile *self, DynamicColor entry, DynamicColor defva
 }
 
 color_type
-colorprofile_to_color_with_fallback(ColorProfile *self, DynamicColor entry, DynamicColor defval, DynamicColor fallback, DynamicColor falback_defval) {
+colorprofile_to_color_with_fallback(ColorProfile *self, DynamicColor entry, DynamicColor defval, DynamicColor fallback, DynamicColor fallback_defval) {
     switch(entry.type) {
         case COLOR_NOT_SET:
         case COLOR_IS_SPECIAL:
-            if (defval.type == COLOR_IS_SPECIAL) return colorprofile_to_color(self, fallback, falback_defval).rgb;
+            if (defval.type == COLOR_IS_SPECIAL) return colorprofile_to_color(self, fallback, fallback_defval).rgb;
             return defval.rgb;
         case COLOR_IS_RGB:
             return entry.rgb;
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ set_configured_colors(ColorProfile *self, PyObject *args) {
 #define set_configured_colors_doc "Set the configured colors"
     unsigned int default_fg, default_bg, cursor_color, cursor_text_color, highlight_fg, highlight_bg, visual_bell_color;
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "II|IIIII", &default_fg, &default_bg,
-        &cursor_color, &cursor_text_color, &highlight_fg, &highlight_bg,  &visual_bell_color)) return NULL;
+        &cursor_color, &cursor_text_color, &highlight_fg, &highlight_bg, &visual_bell_color)) return NULL;
 #define S(which) \
     self->configured.which.rgb = which & 0xffffff; \
     self->configured.which.type = (which & 0xff000000) ? COLOR_IS_RGB : COLOR_IS_SPECIAL;
diff --git a/kitty/shaders.c b/kitty/shaders.c
index d4761d0de..e6547212a 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders.c
+++ b/kitty/shaders.c
@@ -635,8 +635,11 @@ draw_visual_bell_flash(GLfloat intensity, GLfloat xstart, GLfloat ystart, GLfloa
     glBlendFuncSeparate(GL_ONE, GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ZERO, GL_ONE);
     bind_program(TINT_PROGRAM);
     GLfloat attenuation = 0.4f;
-    const color_type flash = colorprofile_to_color_with_fallback(
-        screen->color_profile, screen->color_profile->overridden.visual_bell_color, screen->color_profile->configured.visual_bell_color, screen->color_profile->overridden.highlight_bg, screen->color_profile->configured.highlight_bg);
+#define IS_SPECIAL_COLOR(name) (screen->color_profile->overridden.name.type == COLOR_IS_SPECIAL || (screen->color_profile->overridden.name.type == COLOR_NOT_SET && screen->color_profile->configured.name.type == COLOR_IS_SPECIAL))
+#define COLOR(name, fallback) colorprofile_to_color_with_fallback(screen->color_profile, screen->color_profile->overridden.name, screen->color_profile->configured.name, screen->color_profile->overridden.fallback, screen->color_profile->configured.fallback)
+    const color_type flash = !IS_SPECIAL_COLOR(highlight_bg) ? COLOR(visual_bell_color, highlight_bg) : COLOR(visual_bell_color, default_fg);
+#undef IS_SPECIAL_COLOR
+#undef COLOR
 #define C(shift) ((((GLfloat)((flash >> shift) & 0xFF)) / 255.0f) )
     const GLfloat r = C(16), g = C(8), b = C(0);
     const GLfloat max_channel = r > g ? (r > b ? r : b) : (g > b ? g : b);