diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 4cd402121..ea7f6da90 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ typedef struct ncmenu {
   int headerwidth;          // minimum space necessary to display all sections
   uint64_t headerchannels;  // styling for header
   uint64_t sectionchannels; // styling for sections
+  uint64_t disablechannels; // styling for disabled entries
   bool bottom;              // are we on the bottom (vs top)?
 } ncmenu;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/menu.c b/src/lib/menu.c
index 894d00e58..b6562f8cf 100644
--- a/src/lib/menu.c
+++ b/src/lib/menu.c
@@ -318,6 +318,8 @@ ncmenu* ncmenu_create(ncplane* n, const ncmenu_options* opts){
         ret->unrolledsection = -1;
         ret->headerchannels = opts->headerchannels;
         ret->sectionchannels = opts->sectionchannels;
+        ret->disablechannels = ret->sectionchannels;
+        channels_set_fg_rgb(&ret->disablechannels, 0xdddddd);
         cell c = CELL_TRIVIAL_INITIALIZER;
         cell_set_fg_alpha(&c, CELL_ALPHA_TRANSPARENT);
         cell_set_bg_alpha(&c, CELL_ALPHA_TRANSPARENT);
@@ -376,10 +378,11 @@ int ncmenu_unroll(ncmenu* n, int sectionidx){
   for(int i = 0 ; i < sec->itemcount ; ++i){
     ++ypos;
     if(sec->items[i].desc){
-      n->ncp->channels = n->sectionchannels;
       // FIXME the user ought be able to configure the disabled channel
-      if(sec->items[i].disabled){
-        ncplane_set_fg_rgb(n->ncp, 0xdddddd);
+      if(!sec->items[i].disabled){
+        ncplane_set_channels(n->ncp, n->sectionchannels);
+      }else{
+        ncplane_set_channels(n->ncp, n->disablechannels);
       }
       if(i == sec->itemselected){
         ncplane_set_styles(n->ncp, NCSTYLE_REVERSE);