diff --git a/sys/src/libframe/frinit.c b/sys/src/libframe/frinit.c
index e0dc41a03..f80877518 100644
--- a/sys/src/libframe/frinit.c
+++ b/sys/src/libframe/frinit.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ frinittick(Frame *f)
 	/* background color */
 	draw(f->tick, f->tick->r, f->cols[BACK], nil, ZP);
 	/* vertical line */
-	draw(f->tick, Rect(FRTICKW/2, 0, FRTICKW/2+1, ft->height), f->display->black, nil, ZP);
+	draw(f->tick, Rect(FRTICKW/2, 0, FRTICKW/2+1, ft->height), f->cols[TEXT], nil, ZP);
 	/* box on each end */
 	draw(f->tick, Rect(0, 0, FRTICKW, FRTICKW), f->cols[TEXT], nil, ZP);
 	draw(f->tick, Rect(0, ft->height-FRTICKW, FRTICKW, ft->height), f->cols[TEXT], nil, ZP);