diff --git a/sys/msdos/video.c b/sys/msdos/video.c
index 02a461f8e..03ca3f18f 100644
--- a/sys/msdos/video.c
+++ b/sys/msdos/video.c
@@ -354,7 +354,10 @@ term_start_color(int color)
     if (monoflag) {
         g_attribute = attrib_text_normal;
     } else {
-        if (color >= 0 && color < CLR_MAX) {
+        if (color == NO_COLOR) { /* 3.7 behave like term_end_color() */
+            g_attribute = iflags.grmode ? attrib_gr_normal : attrib_text_normal;
+            curframecolor = NO_COLOR;
+        } else if (color >= 0 && color < CLR_MAX) {
             if (iflags.grmode)
                 g_attribute = color;
             else
diff --git a/sys/windows/consoletty.c b/sys/windows/consoletty.c
index 5c31ad534..fdc42f07a 100644
--- a/sys/windows/consoletty.c
+++ b/sys/windows/consoletty.c
@@ -1747,7 +1747,9 @@ term_start_raw_bold(void)
 void
 term_start_color(int color)
 {
-    if (color >= 0 && color < CLR_MAX) {
+    if (color == NO_COLOR) {
+        term_end_color();
+    } else if (color >= 0 && color < CLR_MAX) {
         console.current_nhcolor = color;
     } else {
        console.current_nhcolor = NO_COLOR;
@@ -1757,7 +1759,7 @@ term_start_color(int color)
 void
 term_start_bgcolor(int color)
 {
-    if (color >= 0 && color < CLR_MAX) {
+    if (color != NO_COLOR && (color >= 0 && color < CLR_MAX)) {
         console.current_nhbkcolor = color;
     } else {
         console.current_nhbkcolor = NO_COLOR;