diff --git a/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go b/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go
index 9f33e8015..5b51245b5 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go
+++ b/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ func (self *faces) draw_screen() (err error) {
 	previews, found := self.preview_cache[key]
 	if !found {
 		self.preview_cache[key] = make(map[string]RenderedSampleTransmit)
+		if self.handler.text_style.Foreground == "" || self.handler.text_style.Background == "" {
+			return
+		}
 		go func() {
 			var r map[string]RenderedSampleTransmit
 			s := key.settings
diff --git a/kittens/choose_fonts/list.go b/kittens/choose_fonts/list.go
index ecff98d88..8150a399a 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_fonts/list.go
+++ b/kittens/choose_fonts/list.go
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func (self *FontList) draw_family_summary(start_x int, sz loop.ScreenSize) (err
 		lp.QueueWriteString(line)
 		y++
 	}
-	if self.handler.text_style.Background != "" {
+	if self.handler.text_style.Foreground != "" && self.handler.text_style.Background != "" {
 		return self.draw_preview(start_x, y, sz)
 	}
 	return
diff --git a/kittens/choose_fonts/ui.go b/kittens/choose_fonts/ui.go
index 11d16fe8d..78ad5e15a 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_fonts/ui.go
+++ b/kittens/choose_fonts/ui.go
@@ -139,9 +139,14 @@ func (h *handler) on_query_response(key, val string, valid bool) error {
 		}
 	case "foreground":
 		h.text_style.Foreground = val
+		if h.text_style.Background != "" {
+			return h.draw_screen()
+		}
 	case "background":
 		h.text_style.Background = val
-		return h.draw_screen()
+		if h.text_style.Foreground != "" {
+			return h.draw_screen()
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }