diff --git a/awesomerc.lua.in b/awesomerc.lua.in
index cd95bdd68..6217ca05e 100644
--- a/awesomerc.lua.in
+++ b/awesomerc.lua.in
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 -- Include awesome library, with lots of useful function!
 require("awful")
 
+-- {{{ Colors and fonts
+awesome.font_set("sans 8")
+awesome.colors_set({ fg = "white", bg = "black" })
+-- }}}
+
 -- {{{ Variables definitions
 -- This is used later as the default terminal to run.
 terminal = "xterm"
diff --git a/lua.c b/lua.c
index db5514c69..95f30e6fa 100644
--- a/lua.c
+++ b/lua.c
@@ -291,6 +291,20 @@ luaA_font_set(lua_State *L)
     return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+luaA_colors_set(lua_State *L)
+{
+    const char *fg, *bg;
+    luaA_checktable(L, 1);
+    if((fg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL)))
+        draw_color_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                       fg, &globalconf.colors.fg);
+    if((bg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg",NULL)))
+        draw_color_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
+                       bg, &globalconf.colors.bg);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 bool
 luaA_parserc(const char *rcfile)
 {
@@ -311,6 +325,7 @@ luaA_parserc(const char *rcfile)
         { "mouse", luaA_mouse },
         { "resizehints_set", luaA_resizehints_set },
         { "font_set", luaA_font_set },
+        { "colors_set", luaA_colors_set },
         { NULL, NULL }
     };
     static const struct luaL_reg awesome_hooks_lib[] =