diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/sanitize_values.dm b/code/__HELPERS/sanitize_values.dm
index 2ce093e3003..29e6c15d20e 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/sanitize_values.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/sanitize_values.dm
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@
 	return default
 
 
-/proc/sanitize_hexcolor(color, desired_format=3, include_bang=0)
+/proc/sanitize_hexcolor(color, desired_format=3, include_bang=0, default)
 	var/bang = include_bang ? "#" : ""
 	if(!istext(color))
-		return bang + random_string(desired_format, zero_character_only)
+		if(default)	return default
+		return bang + repeat_string(desired_format, "0")
 	
 	var/start = 1 + (text2ascii(color,1)==35)
 	var/len = length(color)
@@ -47,6 +48,8 @@
 			if(48 to 57)	. += ascii2text(ascii)		//numbers 0 to 9
 			if(97 to 102)	. += ascii2text(ascii)		//letters a to f
 			if(65 to 70)	. += ascii2text(ascii+32)	//letters A to F - translates to lowercase
-			else			return bang + random_string(desired_format, zero_character_only)
+			else
+				if(default)	return default
+				return bang + repeat_string(desired_format, "0")
 	
 	return .
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index e81362ca614..ed32650e0e2 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 		update_preferences(needs_update)		//needs_update = savefile_version if we need an update (positive integer)
 	
 	//Sanitize
-	ooccolor		= sanitize_hexcolor(ooccolor, initial(ooccolor))
+	ooccolor		= sanitize_hexcolor(ooccolor, 6, 1, initial(ooccolor))
 	lastchangelog	= sanitize_text(lastchangelog, initial(lastchangelog))
 	UI_style		= sanitize_inlist(UI_style, list("Midnight", "Plasmafire", "Retro"), initial(UI_style))
 	be_special		= sanitize_integer(be_special, 0, 65535, initial(be_special))