diff --git a/style.c b/style.c
index d8ab07a3..5534f118 100644
--- a/style.c
+++ b/style.c
@@ -160,13 +160,21 @@ style_update_new(struct options *oo, const char *name, const char *newname)
 {
 	int			 value;
 	struct grid_cell	*gc;
+	struct options_entry	*o;
 
 	/* It's a colour or attribute, but with no -style equivalent. */
 	if (newname == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	gc = options_get_style(oo, newname);
-	value = options_get_number(oo, name);
+	o = options_find1(oo, newname);
+	if (o == NULL)
+		o = options_set_style (oo, newname, "default", 0);
+	gc = &o->style;
+
+	o = options_find1(oo, name);
+	if (o == NULL)
+		o = options_set_number (oo, name, 8);
+	value = o->num;
 
 	if (strstr(name, "-bg") != NULL)
 		colour_set_bg(gc, value);