diff --git a/lua.c b/lua.c
index 7ea9ed172..a4557bb47 100644
--- a/lua.c
+++ b/lua.c
@@ -979,6 +979,10 @@ luaA_pushcolor(lua_State *L, const xcolor_t *c)
     uint8_t b = (unsigned)c->blue  * 0xff / 0xffff;
     uint8_t a = (unsigned)c->alpha * 0xff / 0xffff;
     char s[10];
-    snprintf(s, sizeof(s), "#%02x%02x%02x%02x", r, g, b, a);
+    /* do not print alpha if it's full */
+    if(a == 0xff)
+        snprintf(s, sizeof(s), "#%02x%02x%02x", r, g, b);
+    else
+        snprintf(s, sizeof(s), "#%02x%02x%02x%02x", r, g, b, a);
     lua_pushlstring(L, s, sizeof(s));
 }