diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index 9676a992..d21e814d 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -1041,19 +1041,18 @@ short color_to_short(const char *colorname, bool *vivid, bool *thick)
  * Return FALSE when any color name is invalid; otherwise return TRUE. */
 bool parse_combination(char *combostr, short *fg, short *bg, int *attributes)
 {
-	char *comma = strchr(combostr, ',');
 	bool vivid, thick;
+	char *comma;
 
 	*attributes = A_NORMAL;
 
 	if (strncmp(combostr, "bold", 4) == 0) {
-		*attributes = A_BOLD;
+		*attributes |= A_BOLD;
 		if (combostr[4] != ',') {
 			jot_error(N_("An attribute requires a subsequent comma"));
 			return FALSE;
 		}
 		combostr += 5;
-		comma = strchr(combostr, ',');
 	}
 
 	if (strncmp(combostr, "italic", 6) == 0) {
@@ -1063,9 +1062,10 @@ bool parse_combination(char *combostr, short *fg, short *bg, int *attributes)
 			return FALSE;
 		}
 		combostr += 7;
-		comma = strchr(combostr, ',');
 	}
 
+	comma = strchr(combostr, ',');
+
 	if (comma != NULL) {
 		*bg = color_to_short(comma + 1, &vivid, &thick);
 		if (*bg == BAD_COLOR)