diff --git a/src/lib/debug.c b/src/lib/debug.c
index 7133b1472..a412a8262 100644
--- a/src/lib/debug.c
+++ b/src/lib/debug.c
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ tinfo_debug_caps(const tinfo* ti, FILE* debugfp, int rows, int cols,
                  unsigned images, unsigned videos){
   const char indent[] = " ";
   fprintf(debugfp, "%sColors: %u rgb: %c ccc: %c setaf: %c setab: %c\n",
-          indent, ti->colors, capbool(ti->RGBflag), capbool(ti->CCCflag), capyn(ti->setaf), capyn(ti->setab));
+          indent, ti->colors, capbool(ti->RGBflag), capbool(ti->CCCflag),
+          capyn(get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SETAF)),
+          capyn(get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SETAB)));
   fprintf(debugfp, "%ssgr: %c sgr0: %c\n",
           indent, capyn(ti->sgr), capyn(ti->sgr0));
   fprintf(debugfp, "%sop: %c fgop: %c bgop: %c\n",
diff --git a/src/lib/direct.c b/src/lib/direct.c
index 17bdea348..436a11c2a 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.c
+++ b/src/lib/direct.c
@@ -647,17 +647,25 @@ int ncdirect_render_image(ncdirect* n, const char* file, ncalign_e align,
 }
 
 int ncdirect_set_fg_palindex(ncdirect* nc, int pidx){
+  const char* setaf = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_SETAF);
+  if(!setaf){
+    return -1;
+  }
   if(ncchannels_set_fg_palindex(&nc->channels, pidx) < 0){
     return -1;
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.setaf, pidx), nc->ttyfp, false);
+  return term_emit(tiparm(setaf, pidx), nc->ttyfp, false);
 }
 
 int ncdirect_set_bg_palindex(ncdirect* nc, int pidx){
+  const char* setab = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_SETAB);
+  if(!setab){
+    return -1;
+  }
   if(ncchannels_set_bg_palindex(&nc->channels, pidx) < 0){
     return -1;
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.setab, pidx), nc->ttyfp, false);
+  return term_emit(tiparm(setab, pidx), nc->ttyfp, false);
 }
 
 int ncdirect_vprintf_aligned(ncdirect* n, int y, ncalign_e align, const char* fmt, va_list ap){
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index cf0462ab0..dec996802 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -803,18 +803,20 @@ term_emit(const char* seq, FILE* out, bool flush){
 
 static inline int
 term_bg_palindex(const notcurses* nc, FILE* out, unsigned pal){
-  if(nc->tcache.setab == NULL){
-    return 0;
+  const char* setab = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_SETAB);
+  if(setab){
+    return term_emit(tiparm(setab, pal), out, false);
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.setab, pal), out, false);
+  return 0;
 }
 
 static inline int
 term_fg_palindex(const notcurses* nc, FILE* out, unsigned pal){
-  if(nc->tcache.setaf == NULL){
-    return 0;
+  const char* setaf = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_SETAF);
+  if(setaf){
+    return term_emit(tiparm(setaf, pal), out, false);
   }
-  return term_emit(tiparm(nc->tcache.setaf, pal), out, false);
+  return 0;
 }
 
 static inline const char*
@@ -1578,8 +1580,7 @@ ncdirect_bg_default_p(const struct ncdirect* nc){
   return ncchannels_bg_default_p(ncdirect_channels(nc));
 }
 
-int term_fg_rgb8(bool RGBflag, const char* setaf, int colors, FILE* out,
-                 unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b);
+int term_fg_rgb8(const tinfo* ti, FILE* out, unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b);
 
 const struct blitset* lookup_blitset(const tinfo* tcache, ncblitter_e setid, bool may_degrade);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 1512a34f6..4f9e2f8da 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -841,13 +841,14 @@ init_banner(const notcurses* nc, const char* shortname_term){
              bprefix(nc->stats.fbbytes, 1, prefixbuf, 0),
              sizeof(struct crender), nc->tcache.colors);
     }
-    if(nc->tcache.RGBflag){
+    const char* setaf;
+    if(nc->tcache.RGBflag && (setaf = get_escape(&nc->tcache, ESCAPE_SETAF))){
       putc('+', stdout);
-      term_fg_rgb8(true, nc->tcache.setaf, nc->tcache.colors, stdout, 0xe0, 0x60, 0x60);
+      term_fg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, stdout, 0xe0, 0x60, 0x60);
       putc('R', stdout);
-      term_fg_rgb8(true, nc->tcache.setaf, nc->tcache.colors, stdout, 0x60, 0xe0, 0x60);
+      term_fg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, stdout, 0x60, 0xe0, 0x60);
       putc('G', stdout);
-      term_fg_rgb8(true, nc->tcache.setaf, nc->tcache.colors, stdout, 0x20, 0x80, 0xff);
+      term_fg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, stdout, 0x20, 0x80, 0xff);
       putc('B', stdout);
       term_fg_palindex(nc, stdout, nc->tcache.colors <= 256 ? 12 % nc->tcache.colors : 0x2080e0);
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index 3efc632f5..4466c2967 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -718,60 +718,58 @@ term_esc_rgb(FILE* out, bool foreground, unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b){
 }
 
 static inline int
-term_bg_rgb8(bool RGBflag, const char* setab, int colors, FILE* out,
-             unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b, uint32_t bg_collides_default){
+term_bg_rgb8(const tinfo* ti, FILE* out, unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b){
   // We typically want to use tputs() and tiperm() to acquire and write the
   // escapes, as these take into account terminal-specific delays, padding,
   // etc. For the case of DirectColor, there is no suitable terminfo entry, but
   // we're also in that case working with hopefully more robust terminals.
   // If it doesn't work, eh, it doesn't work. Fuck the world; save yourself.
-  if(RGBflag){
-    if(bg_collides_default){
-      if((r == (bg_collides_default & 0xff0000lu)) &&
-         (g == (bg_collides_default & 0xff00lu)) &&
-         (b == (bg_collides_default & 0xfflu))){
+  if(ti->RGBflag){
+    if(ti->bg_collides_default){
+      if((r == (ti->bg_collides_default & 0xff0000lu)) &&
+         (g == (ti->bg_collides_default & 0xff00lu)) &&
+         (b == (ti->bg_collides_default & 0xfflu))){
         ++b; // what if it's 255 FIXME
       }
     }
     return term_esc_rgb(out, false, r, g, b);
   }else{
-    if(setab == NULL){
-      return 0;
-    }
-    // For 256-color indexed mode, start constructing a palette based off
-    // the inputs *if we can change the palette*. If more than 256 are used on
-    // a single screen, start... combining close ones? For 8-color mode, simple
-    // interpolation. I have no idea what to do for 88 colors. FIXME
-    if(colors >= 256){
-      return term_emit(tiparm(setab, rgb_quantize_256(r, g, b)), out, false);
-    }else if(colors >= 8){
-      return term_emit(tiparm(setab, rgb_quantize_8(r, g, b)), out, false);
+    const char* setab = get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SETAB);
+    if(setab){
+      // For 256-color indexed mode, start constructing a palette based off
+      // the inputs *if we can change the palette*. If more than 256 are used on
+      // a single screen, start... combining close ones? For 8-color mode, simple
+      // interpolation. I have no idea what to do for 88 colors. FIXME
+      if(ti->colors >= 256){
+        return term_emit(tiparm(setab, rgb_quantize_256(r, g, b)), out, false);
+      }else if(ti->colors >= 8){
+        return term_emit(tiparm(setab, rgb_quantize_8(r, g, b)), out, false);
+      }
     }
   }
   return 0;
 }
 
-int term_fg_rgb8(bool RGBflag, const char* setaf, int colors, FILE* out,
-                 unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b){
+int term_fg_rgb8(const tinfo* ti, FILE* out, unsigned r, unsigned g, unsigned b){
   // We typically want to use tputs() and tiperm() to acquire and write the
   // escapes, as these take into account terminal-specific delays, padding,
   // etc. For the case of DirectColor, there is no suitable terminfo entry, but
   // we're also in that case working with hopefully more robust terminals.
   // If it doesn't work, eh, it doesn't work. Fuck the world; save yourself.
-  if(RGBflag){
+  if(ti->RGBflag){
     return term_esc_rgb(out, true, r, g, b);
   }else{
-    if(setaf == NULL){
-      return 0;
-    }
-    // For 256-color indexed mode, start constructing a palette based off
-    // the inputs *if we can change the palette*. If more than 256 are used on
-    // a single screen, start... combining close ones? For 8-color mode, simple
-    // interpolation. I have no idea what to do for 88 colors. FIXME
-    if(colors >= 256){
-      return term_emit(tiparm(setaf, rgb_quantize_256(r, g, b)), out, false);
-    }else if(colors >= 8){
-      return term_emit(tiparm(setaf, rgb_quantize_8(r, g, b)), out, false);
+    const char* setaf = get_escape(ti, ESCAPE_SETAF);
+    if(setaf){
+      // For 256-color indexed mode, start constructing a palette based off
+      // the inputs *if we can change the palette*. If more than 256 are used on
+      // a single screen, start... combining close ones? For 8-color mode, simple
+      // interpolation. I have no idea what to do for 88 colors. FIXME
+      if(ti->colors >= 256){
+        return term_emit(tiparm(setaf, rgb_quantize_256(r, g, b)), out, false);
+      }else if(ti->colors >= 8){
+        return term_emit(tiparm(setaf, rgb_quantize_8(r, g, b)), out, false);
+      }
     }
   }
   return 0;
@@ -1044,7 +1042,7 @@ rasterize_core(notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, unsigned phase){
           if(nc->rstate.fgelidable && nc->rstate.lastr == r && nc->rstate.lastg == g && nc->rstate.lastb == b){
             ++nc->stats.fgelisions;
           }else{
-            if(term_fg_rgb8(nc->tcache.RGBflag, nc->tcache.setaf, nc->tcache.colors, out, r, g, b)){
+            if(term_fg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, out, r, g, b)){
               return -1;
             }
             ++nc->stats.fgemissions;
@@ -1069,9 +1067,7 @@ rasterize_core(notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, unsigned phase){
           if(nc->rstate.bgelidable && nc->rstate.lastbr == br && nc->rstate.lastbg == bg && nc->rstate.lastbb == bb){
             ++nc->stats.bgelisions;
           }else{
-            if(term_bg_rgb8(nc->tcache.RGBflag, nc->tcache.setab,
-                            nc->tcache.colors, out, br, bg, bb,
-                            nc->tcache.bg_collides_default)){
+            if(term_bg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, out, br, bg, bb)){
               return -1;
             }
             ++nc->stats.bgemissions;
@@ -1443,9 +1439,7 @@ int ncdirect_set_bg_rgb(ncdirect* nc, unsigned rgb){
   if(!ncdirect_bg_default_p(nc) && ncchannels_bg_rgb(nc->channels) == rgb){
     return 0;
   }
-  if(term_bg_rgb8(nc->tcache.RGBflag, nc->tcache.setab, nc->tcache.colors, nc->ttyfp,
-                  (rgb & 0xff0000u) >> 16u, (rgb & 0xff00u) >> 8u, rgb & 0xffu,
-                  nc->tcache.bg_collides_default)){
+  if(term_bg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, nc->ttyfp, (rgb & 0xff0000u) >> 16u, (rgb & 0xff00u) >> 8u, rgb & 0xffu)){
     return -1;
   }
   ncchannels_set_bg_rgb(&nc->channels, rgb);
@@ -1460,8 +1454,7 @@ int ncdirect_set_fg_rgb(ncdirect* nc, unsigned rgb){
   if(!ncdirect_fg_default_p(nc) && ncchannels_fg_rgb(nc->channels) == rgb){
     return 0;
   }
-  if(term_fg_rgb8(nc->tcache.RGBflag, nc->tcache.setaf, nc->tcache.colors, nc->ttyfp,
-                  (rgb & 0xff0000u) >> 16u, (rgb & 0xff00u) >> 8u, rgb & 0xffu)){
+  if(term_fg_rgb8(&nc->tcache, nc->ttyfp, (rgb & 0xff0000u) >> 16u, (rgb & 0xff00u) >> 8u, rgb & 0xffu)){
     return -1;
   }
   ncchannels_set_fg_rgb(&nc->channels, rgb);
diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.h b/src/lib/termdesc.h
index ac63779cb..3e192483f 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.h
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.h
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ typedef enum {
 typedef struct tinfo {
   uint16_t escindices[ESCAPE_MAX]; // table of 1-biased indices into esctable
   char* esctable;                  // packed table of escape sequences
-  char* setaf;    // set foreground color (ANSI)
-  char* setab;    // set background color (ANSI)
   char* op;       // set foreground and background color to default
   char* sgr;      // set many graphics properties at once
   unsigned colors;// number of colors terminfo reported usable for this screen
diff --git a/src/lib/terminfo.c b/src/lib/terminfo.c
index d6bfeb990..e1e630821 100644
--- a/src/lib/terminfo.c
+++ b/src/lib/terminfo.c
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@ int interrogate_terminfo(tinfo* ti, int fd, const char* termname,
     { ESCAPE_CUP, "cup", },
     { ESCAPE_HPA, "hpa", },
     { ESCAPE_VPA, "vpa", },
+    // Not all terminals support setting the fore/background independently
+    { ESCAPE_SETAF, "setaf", },
+    { ESCAPE_SETAB, "setab", },
     { ESCAPE_MAX, NULL, },
   };
   size_t tablelen = 0;
@@ -283,9 +286,6 @@ int interrogate_terminfo(tinfo* ti, int fd, const char* termname,
     // can't do anything about struck! :/
   }
   terminfostr(&ti->getm, "getm"); // get mouse events
-  // Not all terminals support setting the fore/background independently
-  terminfostr(&ti->setaf, "setaf"); // set forground color
-  terminfostr(&ti->setab, "setab"); // set background color
   terminfostr(&ti->smkx, "smkx");   // enable keypad transmit
   terminfostr(&ti->rmkx, "rmkx");   // disable keypad transmit
   terminfostr(&ti->struck, "smxx"); // strikeout