diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index f41cebf1..874af13e 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -379,6 +379,10 @@ void parse_binding(char *ptr, bool dobind)
 	int menu, mask = 0;
 	funcstruct *f;
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_COLOR
+	opensyntax = FALSE;
+#endif
+
 	if (*ptr == '\0') {
 		jot_error(N_("Missing key name"));
 		return;
@@ -1107,6 +1111,10 @@ void parse_rcfile(FILE *rcstream, bool just_syntax, bool intros_only)
 		if (set == 0)
 			continue;
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_COLOR
+		opensyntax = FALSE;
+#endif
+
 		if (*ptr == '\0') {
 			jot_error(N_("Missing option"));
 			continue;