diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index f3085e14e0f..68889766010 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ datum/preferences
 						if(result)
 							var/newtype = roundstart_species[result]
 							pref_species = new newtype()
-							if(!config.mutant_colors)
+							if(!config.mutant_colors || mutant_color == "#000")
 								mutant_color = pref_species.default_color
 
 					if("mutant_color")
@@ -642,7 +642,9 @@ datum/preferences
 						var/new_mutantcolor = input(user, "Choose your character's alien skin color:", "Character Preference") as color|null
 						if(new_mutantcolor)
 							var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_mutantcolor)
-							if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#7F7F7F")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright
+							if(new_mutantcolor) == "#000000")
+								mutant_color = pref_species.default_color
+							else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#7F7F7F")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright
 								mutant_color = sanitize_hexcolor(new_mutantcolor)
 							else
 								user << "<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>"
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 33768cb04c7..a6bd47f8516 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 
 	if(!S["species"] || !config.mutant_races)
 		S["species"]		<< new /datum/species/human()
+		S["mutant_color"]	<< "#FFF"
 
 	//Character
 	S["OOC_Notes"]			>> metadata
@@ -194,6 +195,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	real_name		= reject_bad_name(real_name)
 	if(!(pref_species in species_list))
 		pref_species = new /datum/species/human()
+		mutant_color = "#FFF"
 	if(!real_name)	real_name = random_name(gender)
 	be_random_name	= sanitize_integer(be_random_name, 0, 1, initial(be_random_name))
 	gender			= sanitize_gender(gender)