diff --git a/commands/account/pipe.go b/commands/account/pipe.go
index 5693d4a..ab2518b 100644
--- a/commands/account/pipe.go
+++ b/commands/account/pipe.go
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ func Pipe(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 		pipe, err := cmd.StdinPipe()
 		if err != nil {
 			aerc.PushStatus(" "+err.Error(), 10*time.Second).
-				Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorWhite)
+				Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 			return
 		}
 		term, err := widgets.NewTerminal(cmd)
 		if err != nil {
 			aerc.PushStatus(" "+err.Error(), 10*time.Second).
-				Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorWhite)
+				Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 			return
 		}
 		host := widgets.NewTermHost(term, aerc.Config())
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func Pipe(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 		term.OnClose = func(err error) {
 			if err != nil {
 				aerc.PushStatus(" "+err.Error(), 10*time.Second).
-					Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorWhite)
+					Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 			} else {
 				// TODO: Tab-specific status stacks
 				aerc.PushStatus("Process complete, press any key to close.",
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func Pipe(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 				_, err := io.Copy(pipe, reader)
 				if err != nil {
 					aerc.PushStatus(" "+err.Error(), 10*time.Second).
-						Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorWhite)
+						Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 				}
 				pipe.Close()
 			}()
diff --git a/commands/term.go b/commands/term.go
index d122e78..aea6382 100644
--- a/commands/term.go
+++ b/commands/term.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func Term(aerc *widgets.Aerc, args []string) error {
 		aerc.RemoveTab(host)
 		if err != nil {
 			aerc.PushStatus(" "+err.Error(), 10*time.Second).
-				Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorWhite)
+				Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/widgets/account.go b/widgets/account.go
index dd779b3..f26d838 100644
--- a/widgets/account.go
+++ b/widgets/account.go
@@ -185,6 +185,6 @@ func (acct *AccountView) onMessage(msg types.WorkerMessage) {
 	case *types.Error:
 		acct.logger.Printf("%v", msg.Error)
 		acct.host.SetStatus(fmt.Sprintf("%v", msg.Error)).
-			Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorDefault)
+			Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/widgets/aerc.go b/widgets/aerc.go
index fdfc658..3ba4e0d 100644
--- a/widgets/aerc.go
+++ b/widgets/aerc.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func (aerc *Aerc) BeginExCommand() {
 		err := aerc.cmd(cmd)
 		if err != nil {
 			aerc.PushStatus(" "+err.Error(), 10*time.Second).
-				Color(tcell.ColorRed, tcell.ColorWhite)
+				Color(tcell.ColorDefault, tcell.ColorRed)
 		}
 		aerc.statusbar.Pop()
 		aerc.focus(previous)