diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index d0bae94c0..468ad8857 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ Changelog
 
 |kitty| is a feature full, cross-platform, *fast*, GPU based terminal emulator.
 
+0.13.3 [future]
+------------------------------
+
+- Fix a regression in the previous release that broke using ``background`` for
+  :opt:`cursor_text_color` (:iss:`1288`)
+
+
 0.13.2 [2019-01-04]
 ------------------------------
 
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index a041cc88d..ccc3b42f6 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def load_shader_programs(semi_transparent=0):
 def setup_colors(screen, opts):
     screen.color_profile.update_ansi_color_table(build_ansi_color_table(opts))
     cursor_text_color = opts.cursor_text_color or (12, 12, 12)
-    cursor_text_color_as_bg = 3 if cursor_text_color is None else 1
+    cursor_text_color_as_bg = 3 if opts.cursor_text_color is None else 1
     screen.color_profile.set_configured_colors(*map(color_as_int, (
         opts.foreground, opts.background, opts.cursor,
         cursor_text_color, (0, 0, cursor_text_color_as_bg),