diff --git a/rtv/__main__.py b/rtv/__main__.py
index 40ed843..e19bb15 100644
--- a/rtv/__main__.py
+++ b/rtv/__main__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from . import docs
 from .config import Config, copy_default_config
 from .oauth import OAuthHelper
 from .terminal import Terminal
-from .objects import curses_session
+from .objects import curses_session, Color
 from .subreddit import SubredditPage
 from .exceptions import ConfigError
 from .__version__ import __version__
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ def main():
 
     try:
         with curses_session() as stdscr:
+
+            # Initialize global color-pairs with curses
+            if not config['monochrome']:
+                Color.init()
+
             term = Terminal(stdscr, config['ascii'])
             with term.loader('Initializing', catch_exception=False):
                 reddit = praw.Reddit(user_agent=user_agent,
diff --git a/rtv/config.py b/rtv/config.py
index 7519653..4ed475d 100644
--- a/rtv/config.py
+++ b/rtv/config.py
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ def build_parser():
     parser.add_argument(
         '--ascii', action='store_const', const=True,
         help='enable ascii-only mode')
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--monochrome', action='store_const', const=True,
+        help='enable monochrome mode and force text to black & white')
     parser.add_argument(
         '--non-persistent', dest='persistent', action='store_const',
         const=False,
@@ -79,6 +82,7 @@ def copy_default_config(filename=CONFIG):
 
     print('Copying default settings to %s' % filename)
     shutil.copy(DEFAULT_CONFIG, filename)
+    os.chmod(filename, 0o664)
 
 
 class OrderedSet(object):
@@ -208,6 +212,7 @@ class Config(object):
 
         params = {
             'ascii': partial(config.getboolean, 'rtv'),
+            'monochrome': partial(config.getboolean, 'rtv'),
             'clear_auth': partial(config.getboolean, 'rtv'),
             'persistent': partial(config.getboolean, 'rtv'),
             'history_size': partial(config.getint, 'rtv'),
diff --git a/rtv/objects.py b/rtv/objects.py
index f64e3cb..7e3fab7 100644
--- a/rtv/objects.py
+++ b/rtv/objects.py
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ def curses_session():
         # Hide the blinking cursor
         curses.curs_set(0)
 
-        Color.init()
+        # Assign the terminal's default (background) color to code -1
+        curses.use_default_colors()
 
         yield stdscr
 
@@ -254,7 +255,6 @@ class LoadScreen(object):
 
 
 class Color(object):
-
     """
     Color attributes for curses.
     """
@@ -286,9 +286,6 @@ class Color(object):
         curses color pairs can be accessed directly through class attributes.
         """
 
-        # Assign the terminal's default (background) color to code -1
-        curses.use_default_colors()
-
         for index, (attr, code) in enumerate(cls._colors.items(), start=1):
             curses.init_pair(index, code[0], code[1])
             setattr(cls, attr, curses.color_pair(index))
diff --git a/rtv/rtv.cfg b/rtv/rtv.cfg
index 034d4a0..4d89afe 100644
--- a/rtv/rtv.cfg
+++ b/rtv/rtv.cfg
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 ; This may be necessary for compatibility with some terminal browsers.
 ascii = False
 
+; Turn on monochrome mode to force text to black and white.
+monochrome = False
+
 ; Enable debugging by logging all HTTP requests and errors to the given file.
 ;log = /tmp/rtv.log
 
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 1f409c4..eb1bcf4 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ def test_config_get_args():
             '--log', 'logfile.log',
             '--config', 'configfile.cfg',
             '--ascii',
+            '--monochrome',
             '--non-persistent',
             '--clear-auth',
-            '--copy-config']
+            '--copy-config',]
 
     with mock.patch('sys.argv', ['rtv']):
         config_dict = Config.get_args()
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ def test_config_get_args():
 
         config = Config(**config_dict)
         assert config['ascii'] is True
+        assert config['monochrome'] is True
         assert config['subreddit'] == 'cfb'
         assert config['log'] == 'logfile.log'
         assert config['ascii'] is True
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ def test_config_from_file():
 
     args = {
         'ascii': True,
+        'monochrome': True,
         'persistent': False,
         'clear_auth': True,
         'log': 'logfile.log',
diff --git a/tests/test_objects.py b/tests/test_objects.py
index d9592f6..84bb016 100644
--- a/tests/test_objects.py
+++ b/tests/test_objects.py
@@ -168,7 +168,6 @@ def test_objects_color(stdscr):
         assert getattr(Color, color) == curses.A_NORMAL
 
     Color.init()
-    assert curses.use_default_colors.called
 
     # Check that all colors are populated
     for color in colors:
@@ -182,6 +181,7 @@ def test_objects_curses_session(stdscr):
         pass
     assert curses.initscr.called
     assert curses.endwin.called
+    assert curses.use_default_colors.called
     curses.initscr.reset_mock()
     curses.endwin.reset_mock()