diff --git a/src/demo/hud.c b/src/demo/hud.c
index 645579aec..40110face 100644
--- a/src/demo/hud.c
+++ b/src/demo/hud.c
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ struct ncplane* hud_create(struct notcurses* nc){
     return NULL;
   }
   hud_standard_bg(n);
-  uint64_t channels;
-  channels_set_fg(&channels, 0xffffff);
+  uint64_t channels = 0;
   channels_set_fg(&channels, 0xffffff);
+  channels_set_bg(&channels, 0xffffff);
   ncplane_set_bg(n, 0x409040);
   if(ncplane_putegc_yx(n, 0, HUD_COLS - 1, "\u2612", 0, channels, NULL) < 0){
     ncplane_destroy(n);