diff --git a/frontend/document/canvascontext.lua b/frontend/document/canvascontext.lua
index 85ced3939..68e2cb082 100644
--- a/frontend/document/canvascontext.lua
+++ b/frontend/document/canvascontext.lua
@@ -32,12 +32,14 @@ The following key is required for a device object:
     * getDPI() -> int
     * getSize() -> Rect
     * scaleBySize(int) -> int
+    * isColorEnabled() -> boolean
 ]]--
 function CanvasContext:init(device)
     self.screen = device.screen
     self.isAndroid = device.isAndroid
     self.isKindle = device.isKindle
     self.should_restrict_JIT = device.should_restrict_JIT
+    self:setColorRenderingEnabled(device.screen.isColorEnabled())
 
     -- NOTE: Kobo's fb is BGR, not RGB. Handle the conversion in MuPDF if needed.
     if device:hasBGRFrameBuffer() then
diff --git a/frontend/ui/elements/screen_color_menu_table.lua b/frontend/ui/elements/screen_color_menu_table.lua
index 70ad6a01a..cc40a72be 100644
--- a/frontend/ui/elements/screen_color_menu_table.lua
+++ b/frontend/ui/elements/screen_color_menu_table.lua
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ return {
     checked_func = Screen.isColorEnabled,
     callback = function()
         local new_val = not Screen.isColorEnabled()
-        CanvasContext:setColorRenderingEnabled(new_val)
+        -- Screen.isColorEnabled reads G_reader_settings :'(
         G_reader_settings:saveSetting("color_rendering", new_val)
+        CanvasContext:setColorRenderingEnabled(new_val)
         UIManager:broadcastEvent(Event:new("ColorRenderingUpdate"))
     end
 }
diff --git a/reader.lua b/reader.lua
index ddbf39b3f..90ad6c29f 100755
--- a/reader.lua
+++ b/reader.lua
@@ -60,11 +60,6 @@ end
 
 local CanvasContext = require("document/canvascontext")
 CanvasContext:init(Device)
-if G_reader_settings:has("color_rendering") then
-    CanvasContext:setColorRenderingEnabled(G_reader_settings:isTrue("color_rendering"))
-else
-    CanvasContext:setColorRenderingEnabled(Device.screen:isColorScreen())
-end
 
 -- option parsing:
 local longopts = {
diff --git a/spec/unit/commonrequire.lua b/spec/unit/commonrequire.lua
index 020c270c7..72eb71eed 100644
--- a/spec/unit/commonrequire.lua
+++ b/spec/unit/commonrequire.lua
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ einkfb.dummy = true --luacheck: ignore
 
 local Device = require("device")
 
-local CanvasContext = require("document/canvascontext")
-CanvasContext:init(Device)
-
 -- init output device
 local Screen = Device.screen
 Screen:init()
 
+local CanvasContext = require("document/canvascontext")
+CanvasContext:init(Device)
+
 -- init input device (do not show SDL window)
 local Input = Device.input
 Input.dummy = true
diff --git a/spec/unit/menu_table_screen_color_spec.lua b/spec/unit/menu_table_screen_color_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc6514040
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/unit/menu_table_screen_color_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+describe("menu table screen color module", function()
+    local menu, Screen, CanvasContext
+    setup(function()
+        require("commonrequire")
+        menu = require("ui/elements/screen_color_menu_table")
+        Screen = require("device").screen
+        CanvasContext = require("document/canvascontext")
+    end)
+
+    it("should toggle color rendering", function()
+        assert.is.truthy(Screen.isColorEnabled())
+        assert.is.truthy(CanvasContext.is_color_rendering_enabled)
+        menu.callback()
+        assert.is.falsy(Screen.isColorEnabled())
+        assert.is.falsy(CanvasContext.is_color_rendering_enabled)
+        menu.callback()
+        assert.is.truthy(Screen.isColorEnabled())
+        assert.is.truthy(CanvasContext.is_color_rendering_enabled)
+    end)
+end)