diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index 3c515717..003e070b 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -991,9 +991,10 @@ void parse_includes(char *ptr)
 	free(expanded);
 }
 
-const char hues[9][7] = { "pink", "purple", "mauve", "lagoon", "mint",
+#define COLORCOUNT  9
+const char hues[COLORCOUNT][7] = { "pink", "purple", "mauve", "lagoon", "mint",
 						  "lime", "peach", "orange", "latte" };
-short indices[9] = { 204, 163, 134, 38, 48, 148, 215, 208, 137 };
+short indices[COLORCOUNT] = { 204, 163, 134, 38, 48, 148, 215, 208, 137 };
 
 /* Return the short value corresponding to the given color name, and set
  * vivid to TRUE for a lighter color, and thick for a heavier typeface. */
@@ -1032,7 +1033,7 @@ short color_to_short(const char *colorname, bool *vivid, bool *thick)
 	else if (strcmp(colorname, "normal") == 0)
 		return THE_DEFAULT;
 	else
-		for (int index = 0; index < 9; index++)
+		for (int index = 0; index < COLORCOUNT; index++)
 			if (strcmp(colorname, hues[index]) == 0) {
 				if (*vivid) {
 					jot_error(N_("Color '%s' takes no prefix"), colorname);