diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index c1ef9896c..c1e56298a 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -1005,8 +1005,11 @@ luaA_client_border_set(lua_State *L)
 
     if(colorstr
         && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, (*c)->phys_screen, colorstr, &color))
+    {
         xcb_change_window_attributes(globalconf.connection, (*c)->win, XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL,
                                      &color.pixel);
+        xcolor_wipe(&color);
+    }
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/common/draw.c b/common/draw.c
index c5faef3de..c0658d852 100644
--- a/common/draw.c
+++ b/common/draw.c
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ xcolor_new(xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen, const char *colstr, xcolor_t
             color->red = hexa_color->red;
             color->green = hexa_color->green;
             color->blue = hexa_color->blue;
-
+            color->name = a_strdup(colstr);
             p_delete(&hexa_color);
             return true;
         }
@@ -1159,6 +1159,7 @@ xcolor_new(xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen, const char *colstr, xcolor_t
             color->green = named_color->visual_green;
             color->blue = named_color->visual_blue;
             color->alpha = 0xffff;
+            color->name = a_strdup(colstr);
 
             p_delete(&named_color);
             return true;
diff --git a/common/draw.h b/common/draw.h
index 874b0f71c..e3fc50c3f 100644
--- a/common/draw.h
+++ b/common/draw.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 
 typedef struct
 {
+    /** Color name */
+    char *name;
     uint32_t pixel;
     uint16_t red;
     uint16_t green;
@@ -195,6 +197,17 @@ void draw_image_from_argb_data(draw_context_t *, int, int, int, int, int, unsign
 void draw_rotate(draw_context_t *, xcb_drawable_t, xcb_drawable_t, int, int, int, int, double, int, int);
 area_t draw_text_extents(xcb_connection_t *, int, font_t *, const char *, draw_parser_data_t *);
 alignment_t draw_align_fromstr(const char *, ssize_t);
+
+/** Wipe a color resources.
+ * \param color The color to wipe out.
+ */
+static inline void
+xcolor_wipe(xcolor_t *color)
+{
+    if(color)
+        p_delete(&color->name);
+}
+
 bool xcolor_new(xcb_connection_t *, int, const char *, xcolor_t *);
 
 void area_array_remove(area_array_t *, area_t);
diff --git a/lua.c b/lua.c
index a18376e9d..52ba678d0 100644
--- a/lua.c
+++ b/lua.c
@@ -394,14 +394,25 @@ luaA_font_set(lua_State *L)
 static int
 luaA_colors_set(lua_State *L)
 {
-    const char *fg, *bg;
+    const char *buf;
+    xcolor_t color;
+
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
-    if((fg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                       fg, &globalconf.colors.fg);
-    if((bg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                       bg, &globalconf.colors.bg);
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(&globalconf.colors.fg);
+        globalconf.colors.fg = color;
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(&globalconf.colors.bg);
+        globalconf.colors.bg = color;
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/statusbar.c b/statusbar.c
index a893e2d0c..c92ee230c 100644
--- a/statusbar.c
+++ b/statusbar.c
@@ -350,13 +350,15 @@ luaA_statusbar_colors_set(lua_State *L)
 {
     statusbar_t **sb = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "statusbar");
     const char *buf;
+    xcolor_t color;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 2);
 
-    if ((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "fg", NULL)))
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "fg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
     {
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                   buf, &(*sb)->colors.fg);
+        xcolor_wipe(&(*sb)->colors.fg);
+        (*sb)->colors.fg = color;
 
         if((*sb)->ctx)
             (*sb)->ctx->fg = (*sb)->colors.fg;
@@ -364,10 +366,11 @@ luaA_statusbar_colors_set(lua_State *L)
         (*sb)->need_update = true;
     }
 
-    if ((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "bg", NULL)))
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "bg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
     {
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                   buf, &(*sb)->colors.bg);
+        xcolor_wipe(&(*sb)->colors.bg);
+        (*sb)->colors.bg = color;
 
         if((*sb)->ctx)
             (*sb)->ctx->bg = (*sb)->colors.bg;
@@ -541,16 +544,14 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
 
     sb->name = luaA_name_init(L);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                   buf, &sb->colors.fg);
-    else
+    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL))
+       || !xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                     buf, &sb->colors.fg))
         sb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                   buf, &sb->colors.bg);
-    else
+    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL))
+       || !xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                     buf, &sb->colors.bg))
         sb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
 
     buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 1, "align", "left", &len);
diff --git a/titlebar.c b/titlebar.c
index 182a7b4a5..c9c6cdb5f 100644
--- a/titlebar.c
+++ b/titlebar.c
@@ -314,21 +314,20 @@ luaA_titlebar_new(lua_State *L)
     buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 1, "position", "top", &len);
     tb->position = position_fromstr(buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, -1, "fg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                    buf, &tb->colors.fg);
-    else
+    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, -1, "fg", NULL))
+        || !xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                       buf, &tb->colors.fg))
         tb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                   buf, &tb->colors.bg);
-    else
+    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, -1, "bg", NULL))
+        || !xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                       buf, &tb->colors.bg))
         tb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "border_color", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                   buf, &tb->border.color);
+    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, -1, "border_color", NULL))
+        || !xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                       buf, &tb->border.color))
+        tb->border.color = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
     tb->border.width = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "border_width", 0);
 
diff --git a/widgets/graph.c b/widgets/graph.c
index f55f46088..0a8a2d654 100644
--- a/widgets/graph.c
+++ b/widgets/graph.c
@@ -110,22 +110,6 @@ typedef struct
     plot_t *plots;
 } graph_data_t;
 
-static void
-plot_pcolor_set(xcolor_t **ppcolor, const char *new_color)
-{
-    bool flag = false;
-    if(!*ppcolor)
-    {
-        flag = true; /* p_delete && restore to NULL, if xcolor_new unsuccessful */
-        *ppcolor = p_new(xcolor_t, 1);
-    }
-    if(!(xcolor_new(globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen,
-                    new_color, *ppcolor))
-       && flag)
-        p_delete(ppcolor);
-}
-
 /** Add a plot to a graph.
  * \param d The graph private data.
  * \param title The plot title.
@@ -302,6 +286,7 @@ luaA_graph_plot_properties_set(lua_State *L)
     const char *title, *buf;
     size_t len;
     plot_t *plot;
+    xcolor_t color;
 
     title = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
     luaA_checktable(L, 3);
@@ -313,12 +298,26 @@ luaA_graph_plot_properties_set(lua_State *L)
     if(!plot)
         plot = graph_plot_add(d, title);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &plot->color_start);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL)))
-        plot_pcolor_set(&plot->pcolor_center, buf);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL)))
-        plot_pcolor_set(&plot->pcolor_end, buf);
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(&plot->color_start);
+        plot->color_start = color;
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(plot->pcolor_center);
+        plot->pcolor_center = p_dup(&color, 1);
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(plot->pcolor_end);
+        plot->pcolor_end = p_dup(&color, 1);
+    }
 
     plot->vertical_gradient = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "vertical_gradient", plot->vertical_gradient);
     plot->scale = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "scale", plot->scale);
@@ -483,6 +482,7 @@ luaA_graph_newindex(lua_State *L)
     int width;
     plot_t *plot;
     position_t pos;
+    xcolor_t color;
 
     switch(a_tokenize(attr, len))
     {
@@ -510,10 +510,22 @@ luaA_graph_newindex(lua_State *L)
             return 0;
         break;
       case A_TK_BG:
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, luaL_checkstring(L, 3), &d->bg);
+        if(xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, luaL_checkstring(L, 3), &color))
+        {
+            xcolor_wipe(&d->bg);
+            d->bg = color;
+        }
+        else
+            return 0;
         break;
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, luaL_checkstring(L, 3), &d->border_color);
+        if(xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, luaL_checkstring(L, 3), &color))
+        {
+            xcolor_wipe(&d->border_color);
+            d->border_color = color;
+        }
+        else
+            return 0;
         break;
       case A_TK_GROW:
         buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len);
diff --git a/widgets/progressbar.c b/widgets/progressbar.c
index a57134720..1e707dd23 100644
--- a/widgets/progressbar.c
+++ b/widgets/progressbar.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ struct bar_t
     /** Background color */
     xcolor_t bg;
     /** Border color */
-    xcolor_t bordercolor;
+    xcolor_t border_color;
     /** The next and previous bar in the list */
     bar_t *next, *prev;
 };
@@ -93,22 +93,6 @@ typedef struct
     bar_t *bars;
 } progressbar_data_t;
 
-static void
-progressbar_pcolor_set(xcolor_t **ppcolor, const char *new_color)
-{
-    bool flag = false;
-    if(!*ppcolor)
-    {
-        flag = true; /* p_delete && restore to NULL, if xcolor_new unsuccessful */
-        *ppcolor = p_new(xcolor_t, 1);
-    }
-    if(!(xcolor_new(globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen,
-                    new_color, *ppcolor))
-       && flag)
-        p_delete(ppcolor);
-}
-
 /** Add a new bar to the progressbar private data structure.
  * \param d The private data structure.
  * \param title The graph title.
@@ -122,7 +106,7 @@ progressbar_bar_add(progressbar_data_t *d, const char *title)
     bar->fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
     bar->fg_off = globalconf.colors.bg;
     bar->bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
-    bar->bordercolor = globalconf.colors.fg;
+    bar->border_color = globalconf.colors.fg;
     bar->max_value = 100.0;
 
     /* append the bar in the list */
@@ -245,7 +229,7 @@ progressbar_draw(draw_context_t *ctx,
 
                 if(d->border_padding)
                     draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, 1.0, true, bar->bg);
-                draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, d->border_width, false, bar->bordercolor);
+                draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, d->border_width, false, bar->border_color);
             }
 
             pattern_rect.x = pb_x;
@@ -345,7 +329,7 @@ progressbar_draw(draw_context_t *ctx,
 
                 if(d->border_padding)
                     draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, 1.0, true, bar->bg);
-                draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, d->border_width, false, bar->bordercolor);
+                draw_rectangle(ctx, rectangle, d->border_width, false, bar->border_color);
             }
 
             pattern_rect.y = pb_y;
@@ -462,6 +446,7 @@ luaA_progressbar_bar_properties_set(lua_State *L)
     const char *buf, *title = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
     bar_t *bar;
     progressbar_data_t *d = (*widget)->data;
+    xcolor_t color;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 3);
 
@@ -474,18 +459,40 @@ luaA_progressbar_bar_properties_set(lua_State *L)
     if(!bar)
         bar = progressbar_bar_add(d, title);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &bar->fg);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "bg", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &bar->bg);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_off", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &bar->fg_off);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "border_color", NULL)))
-        xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &bar->bordercolor);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL)))
-        progressbar_pcolor_set(&bar->pfg_center, buf);
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL)))
-        progressbar_pcolor_set(&bar->pfg_end, buf);
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(&bar->fg);
+        bar->fg = color;
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "bg", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(&bar->bg);
+        bar->bg = color;
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "border_color", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(&bar->border_color);
+        bar->border_color = color;
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(bar->pfg_center);
+        bar->pfg_end = p_dup(&color, 1);;
+    }
+
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL))
+       && xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf, &color))
+    {
+        xcolor_wipe(bar->pfg_end);
+        bar->pfg_end = p_dup(&color, 1);;
+    }
 
     bar->min_value = luaA_getopt_number(L, 3, "min_value", bar->min_value);
     /* hack to prevent max_value beeing less than min_value
diff --git a/widgets/tasklist.c b/widgets/tasklist.c
index 3899a05e6..81556ac22 100644
--- a/widgets/tasklist.c
+++ b/widgets/tasklist.c
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ tasklist_markup_on_elem(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
             xcolor_t bg_color;
             xcolor_new(ctx->connection, ctx->phys_screen, *values, &bg_color);
             draw_rectangle(ctx, *data->area, 1.0, true, bg_color);
+            xcolor_wipe(&bg_color);
             break;
         }
 }