diff --git a/book/src/themes.md b/book/src/themes.md
index 8642e659..804baa1c 100644
--- a/book/src/themes.md
+++ b/book/src/themes.md
@@ -124,7 +124,9 @@ black = "#000000"
 Remember that the `[palette]` table includes all keys after its header,
 so you should define the palette after normal theme options.
 
-If there is no `[palette]` section, a default palette which uses the terminal's default 16 colors are used:
+The default palette uses the terminal's default 16 colors, and the colors names
+are listed below. The `[palette]` section in the config file takes precedence
+over it and is merged into the default palette.
 
 | Color Name      |
 | ---             |
diff --git a/helix-view/src/theme.rs b/helix-view/src/theme.rs
index 9f768505..9c33685b 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/theme.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/theme.rs
@@ -143,30 +143,37 @@ struct ThemePalette {
 
 impl Default for ThemePalette {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Self::new(hashmap! {
-            "black".to_string() => Color::Black,
-            "red".to_string() => Color::Red,
-            "green".to_string() => Color::Green,
-            "yellow".to_string() => Color::Yellow,
-            "blue".to_string() => Color::Blue,
-            "magenta".to_string() => Color::Magenta,
-            "cyan".to_string() => Color::Cyan,
-            "gray".to_string() => Color::Gray,
-            "light-red".to_string() => Color::LightRed,
-            "light-green".to_string() => Color::LightGreen,
-            "light-yellow".to_string() => Color::LightYellow,
-            "light-blue".to_string() => Color::LightBlue,
-            "light-magenta".to_string() => Color::LightMagenta,
-            "light-cyan".to_string() => Color::LightCyan,
-            "light-gray".to_string() => Color::LightGray,
-            "white".to_string() => Color::White,
-        })
+        Self {
+            palette: hashmap! {
+                "black".to_string() => Color::Black,
+                "red".to_string() => Color::Red,
+                "green".to_string() => Color::Green,
+                "yellow".to_string() => Color::Yellow,
+                "blue".to_string() => Color::Blue,
+                "magenta".to_string() => Color::Magenta,
+                "cyan".to_string() => Color::Cyan,
+                "gray".to_string() => Color::Gray,
+                "light-red".to_string() => Color::LightRed,
+                "light-green".to_string() => Color::LightGreen,
+                "light-yellow".to_string() => Color::LightYellow,
+                "light-blue".to_string() => Color::LightBlue,
+                "light-magenta".to_string() => Color::LightMagenta,
+                "light-cyan".to_string() => Color::LightCyan,
+                "light-gray".to_string() => Color::LightGray,
+                "white".to_string() => Color::White,
+            },
+        }
     }
 }
 
 impl ThemePalette {
     pub fn new(palette: HashMap<String, Color>) -> Self {
-        Self { palette }
+        let ThemePalette {
+            palette: mut default,
+        } = ThemePalette::default();
+
+        default.extend(palette);
+        Self { palette: default }
     }
 
     pub fn hex_string_to_rgb(s: &str) -> Result<Color, String> {