diff --git a/kitty/config.py b/kitty/config.py
index 19a27830a..765e0b49b 100644
--- a/kitty/config.py
+++ b/kitty/config.py
@@ -119,13 +119,15 @@ def validate_font(opts: Options):
 
 
 def build_ansi_color_tables(opts: Options) -> Tuple[dict, dict]:
-    fg = {30 + i: getattr(opts, 'color{}'.format(i)) for i in range(8)}
+    def col(i):
+        return QColor(getattr(opts, 'color{}'.format(i)))
+    fg = {30 + i: col(i) for i in range(8)}
     fg[39] = opts.foreground
-    fg.update({90 + i: getattr(opts, 'color{}'.format(i + 8)) for i in range(8)})
+    fg.update({90 + i: col(i + 8) for i in range(8)})
     fg[99] = opts.foreground_bold
-    bg = {40 + i: getattr(opts, 'color{}'.format(i)) for i in range(8)}
+    bg = {40 + i: col(i) for i in range(8)}
     bg[49] = opts.background
-    bg.update({100 + i: getattr(opts, 'color{}'.format(i + 8)) for i in range(8)})
+    bg.update({100 + i: col(i + 8) for i in range(8)})
     build_ansi_color_tables.fg, build_ansi_color_tables.bg = fg, bg
 build_ansi_color_tables(defaults)