diff --git a/config/sngreprc b/config/sngreprc
index 67beb0b..6fe55be 100644
--- a/config/sngreprc
+++ b/config/sngreprc
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 ##-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## Enable color on or off
 # set color on
-## Use white/black as foreground/background instead of terminal defaults
-# set background dark
+## Use default foreground and background colors of your terminal
+# set background default
 ## Disable syntax highlighting
 # set syntax off
 ## Or enable branch/tag highlighting
diff --git a/src/option.c b/src/option.c
index 20b30bb..bda18d3 100644
--- a/src/option.c
+++ b/src/option.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ init_options()
     set_option_value("color.request", "on");
     set_option_value("color.callid", "off");
     set_option_value("color.cseq", "off");
+    set_option_value("background", "dark");
 
     // Highlight options
     set_option_value("syntax", "on");