diff --git a/awesome.c b/awesome.c
index ac492bef5..794a6eda5 100644
--- a/awesome.c
+++ b/awesome.c
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     /* init default font and colors */
     globalconf.font = draw_font_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "sans 8");
-    xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.fg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "black");
-    xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.bg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "white");
+    xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.fg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "black", sizeof("black"));
+    xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.bg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "white", sizeof("white"));
 
     /* init cursors */
     globalconf.cursor[CurNormal] = xutil_cursor_new(globalconf.connection, CURSOR_LEFT_PTR);
diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index 8f597bbb0..68499cdaf 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -1143,8 +1143,8 @@ luaA_client_newindex(lua_State *L)
         client_setborder(*c, luaL_checknumber(L, 3));
         break;
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
-        if((buf = luaL_checkstring(L, 3))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*c)->border_color, globalconf.connection, (*c)->phys_screen, buf))
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len))
+           && xcolor_init(&(*c)->border_color, globalconf.connection, (*c)->phys_screen, buf, len))
         {
             xcb_change_window_attributes(globalconf.connection, (*c)->win,
                                          XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL, &(*c)->border_color.pixel);
diff --git a/common/draw.c b/common/draw.c
index fa7473a51..8128c8308 100644
--- a/common/draw.c
+++ b/common/draw.c
@@ -222,7 +222,11 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                 switch(a_tokenize(*names, -1))
                 {
                   case A_TK_COLOR:
-                    data->has_bg_color = xcolor_init(&data->bg_color, data->connection, data->phys_screen, *values);
+                    data->has_bg_color = xcolor_init(&data->bg_color,
+                                                     data->connection,
+                                                     data->phys_screen,
+                                                     *values,
+                                                     a_strlen(*values));
                     break;
                   case A_TK_IMAGE:
                     if(data->bg_image)
@@ -242,7 +246,8 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                 switch(a_tokenize(*names, -1))
                 {
                   case A_TK_COLOR:
-                    xcolor_init(&data->border.color, data->connection, data->phys_screen, *values);
+                    xcolor_init(&data->border.color, data->connection,
+                                data->phys_screen, *values, a_strlen(*values));
                     break;
                   case A_TK_WIDTH:
                     data->border.width = atoi(*values);
@@ -260,7 +265,7 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                 break;
               case A_TK_SHADOW:
                 xcolor_init(&data->shadow.color, data->connection,
-                            data->phys_screen, *values);
+                            data->phys_screen, *values, a_strlen(*values));
                 break;
               case A_TK_SHADOW_OFFSET:
                 data->shadow.offset = atoi(*values);
@@ -1088,14 +1093,13 @@ draw_align_tostr(alignment_t a)
  */
 bool
 xcolor_init(xcolor_t *color, xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen,
-            const char *colstr)
+            const char *colstr, ssize_t len)
 {
     xcb_screen_t *s = xutil_screen_get(conn, phys_screen);
     unsigned long colnum;
     uint16_t red, green, blue, alpha = 0xffff;
-    ssize_t len;
 
-    if(!(len = a_strlen(colstr)))
+    if(!len)
         return false;
 
     /* The color is given in RGB value */
diff --git a/common/draw.h b/common/draw.h
index 170826897..c820a3370 100644
--- a/common/draw.h
+++ b/common/draw.h
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ area_t draw_text_extents(xcb_connection_t *, int, font_t *, const char *, ssize_
 alignment_t draw_align_fromstr(const char *, ssize_t);
 const char *draw_align_tostr(alignment_t);
 
-bool xcolor_init(xcolor_t *c, xcb_connection_t *, int, const char *);
+bool xcolor_init(xcolor_t *c, xcb_connection_t *, int, const char *, ssize_t);
 
 void area_array_remove(area_array_t *, area_t);
 
diff --git a/lua.c b/lua.c
index a02f48d4c..cbf00ac9f 100644
--- a/lua.c
+++ b/lua.c
@@ -357,16 +357,17 @@ static int
 luaA_colors_set(lua_State *L)
 {
     const char *buf;
+    size_t len;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL)))
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 1, "fg", NULL, &len)))
        xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf);
+                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL)))
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 1, "bg", NULL, &len)))
        xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf);
+                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/statusbar.c b/statusbar.c
index 92050dad5..79f127fe5 100644
--- a/statusbar.c
+++ b/statusbar.c
@@ -440,18 +440,15 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
 
     sb->name = a_strdup(buf);
 
-    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "fg", NULL))
-       || !xcolor_init(&sb->colors.fg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-    {
-        sb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
-    }
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "fg", NULL, &len)))
+        if(xcolor_init(&sb->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
+                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            sb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
-    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "bg", NULL))
-       || !xcolor_init(&sb->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                       globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-    {
-        sb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
-    }
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "bg", NULL, &len)))
+        if(xcolor_init(&sb->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
+                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            sb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
 
     buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "align", "left", &len);
     sb->align = draw_align_fromstr(buf, len);
@@ -556,25 +553,25 @@ luaA_statusbar_newindex(lua_State *L)
         statusbar_position_update(*statusbar, (*statusbar)->position);
         break;
       case A_TK_FG:
-        if((buf = luaL_checkstring(L, 3))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*statusbar)->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                          globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-        {
-            if((*statusbar)->ctx)
-                (*statusbar)->ctx->fg = (*statusbar)->colors.fg;
-            (*statusbar)->need_update = true;
-        }
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+            if(xcolor_init(&(*statusbar)->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
+                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            {
+                if((*statusbar)->ctx)
+                    (*statusbar)->ctx->fg = (*statusbar)->colors.fg;
+                (*statusbar)->need_update = true;
+            }
         break;
       case A_TK_BG:
-        if((buf = luaL_checkstring(L, 3))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*statusbar)->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                          globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-        {
-            if((*statusbar)->ctx)
-                (*statusbar)->ctx->bg = (*statusbar)->colors.bg;
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+            if(xcolor_init(&(*statusbar)->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
+                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            {
+                if((*statusbar)->ctx)
+                    (*statusbar)->ctx->bg = (*statusbar)->colors.bg;
 
-            (*statusbar)->need_update = true;
-        }
+                (*statusbar)->need_update = true;
+            }
         break;
       case A_TK_POSITION:
         buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len);
diff --git a/titlebar.c b/titlebar.c
index 3152fb2b8..f5379c909 100644
--- a/titlebar.c
+++ b/titlebar.c
@@ -314,26 +314,20 @@ luaA_titlebar_new(lua_State *L)
     buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "position", "top", &len);
     tb->position = position_fromstr(buf, len);
 
-    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "fg", NULL))
-        || !xcolor_init(&tb->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                        globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-    {
-        tb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
-    }
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "fg", NULL, &len)))
+        if(xcolor_init(&tb->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
+                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            tb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
-    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "bg", NULL))
-        || !xcolor_init(&tb->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                        globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-    {
-        tb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
-    }
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "bg", NULL, &len)))
+        if(xcolor_init(&tb->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
+                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            tb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
 
-    if(!(buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "border_color", NULL))
-        || !xcolor_init(&tb->border.color, globalconf.connection,
-                        globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-    {
-        tb->border.color = globalconf.colors.fg;
-    }
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "border_color", NULL, &len)))
+        if(xcolor_init(&tb->border.color, globalconf.connection,
+                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            tb->border.color = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
     tb->border.width = luaA_getopt_number(L, 2, "border_width", 0);
 
@@ -480,29 +474,24 @@ luaA_titlebar_newindex(lua_State *L)
             return 0;
         break;
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
-        if((buf = luaL_checkstring(L, 3))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->border.color, globalconf.connection,
-                          globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-        {
-            if((*titlebar)->sw)
-                xcb_change_window_attributes(globalconf.connection, (*titlebar)->sw->window,
-                                             XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL, &(*titlebar)->border.color.pixel);
-        }
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+            if(xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->border.color, globalconf.connection,
+                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+                if((*titlebar)->sw)
+                    xcb_change_window_attributes(globalconf.connection, (*titlebar)->sw->window,
+                                                 XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL, &(*titlebar)->border.color.pixel);
         return 0;
       case A_TK_FG:
-        if((buf = luaL_checkstring(L, 3))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                          globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-        {
-            titlebar_draw(client_getbytitlebar(*titlebar));
-        }
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+            if(xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
+                          globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+                titlebar_draw(client_getbytitlebar(*titlebar));
         return 0;
       case A_TK_BG:
-        if((buf = luaL_checkstring(L, 3))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->colors.bg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, buf))
-        {
-            titlebar_draw(client_getbytitlebar(*titlebar));
-        }
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+            if(xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
+                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+                titlebar_draw(client_getbytitlebar(*titlebar));
         return 0;
       default:
         return 0;
diff --git a/widgets/graph.c b/widgets/graph.c
index 154af45ac..64df3a120 100644
--- a/widgets/graph.c
+++ b/widgets/graph.c
@@ -296,23 +296,17 @@ 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)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg", NULL, &len)))
        xcolor_init(&plot->color_start, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL, &len)))
        xcolor_init(&plot->pcolor_center, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&plot->pcolor_end, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
     plot->vertical_gradient = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "vertical_gradient", plot->vertical_gradient);
     plot->scale = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "scale", plot->scale);
@@ -484,6 +478,7 @@ luaA_graph_newindex(lua_State *L, awesome_token_t token)
     int width;
     plot_t *plot;
     position_t pos;
+    xcolor_t color;
 
     switch(token)
     {
@@ -511,14 +506,24 @@ luaA_graph_newindex(lua_State *L, awesome_token_t token)
             return 0;
         break;
       case A_TK_BG:
-        if (!xcolor_init(&d->bg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                         luaL_checkstring(L, 3)))
-            return 0;
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+        {
+            if(xcolor_init(&color, globalconf.connection,
+                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+                d->bg = color;
+            else
+                return 0;
+        }
         break;
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
-        if (!xcolor_init(&d->border_color, globalconf.connection,
-                         globalconf.default_screen, luaL_checkstring(L, 3)))
-            return 0;
+        if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
+        {
+            if(xcolor_init(&color, globalconf.connection,
+                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+                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 6293efa4c..0fc4c4dcd 100644
--- a/widgets/progressbar.c
+++ b/widgets/progressbar.c
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ progressbar_draw(draw_context_t *ctx,
 static int
 luaA_progressbar_bar_properties_set(lua_State *L)
 {
+    size_t len;
     widget_t **widget = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "widget");
     const char *buf, *title = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
     bar_t *bar;
@@ -425,41 +426,29 @@ 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)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&bar->fg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_off", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_off", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&bar->fg_off, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "bg", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "bg", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&bar->bg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "border_color", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "border_color", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&bar->border_color, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&bar->fg_center, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
-    if((buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL)))
-    {
+    if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL, &len)))
         xcolor_init(&bar->fg_end, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf);
-    }
+                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
 
     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 8a387027a..02b0bd05e 100644
--- a/widgets/tasklist.c
+++ b/widgets/tasklist.c
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ tasklist_markup_on_elem(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
         if(!a_strcmp(*names, "color"))
         {
             xcolor_t bg_color;
-            xcolor_init(&bg_color, ctx->connection, ctx->phys_screen, *values);
+            xcolor_init(&bg_color, ctx->connection, ctx->phys_screen,
+                        *values, a_strlen(*values));
             draw_rectangle(ctx, *data->area, 1.0, true, &bg_color);
             break;
         }