diff --git a/lisp/faces.el b/lisp/faces.el
index 44d64c743ba..6233afb0d4d 100644
--- a/lisp/faces.el
+++ b/lisp/faces.el
@@ -1340,10 +1340,11 @@ read-face-attribute
 		       (format "%s" old-value))))
 	     (setq new-value
                    (if (memq attribute '(:foreground :background))
-                       (let ((color
-                              (read-color
-                               (format-prompt "%s for face `%s'"
-                                              default attribute-name face))))
+                       (let* ((prompt (format-prompt
+                                       "%s for face `%s'"
+                                       default attribute-name face))
+                              (fg (eq attribute ':foreground))
+                              (color (read-color prompt nil nil nil fg)))
                          (if (equal (string-trim color) "")
                              default
                            color))