diff --git a/src/game.c b/src/game.c
index f0d53ab..78d778f 100644
--- a/src/game.c
+++ b/src/game.c
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ void init_game (void)
 		center(curwin, 3, ATTR_HIGHLIGHT_STR, "%1.46s",
 		       player[first_player].name);
 
-		wait_for_key(curwin, 5);
+		wait_for_key(curwin, 5, ATTR_WAITNORMAL_STR);
 		deltxwin();
 		txrefresh();
 	    }
diff --git a/src/intf.c b/src/intf.c
index 2d9e589..ff2b029 100644
--- a/src/intf.c
+++ b/src/intf.c
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ int center (WINDOW *win, int y, int attr, const char *format, ...)
     }
 
     oldattr = getbkgd(win) & ~A_CHARTEXT;
+    wbkgdset(win, A_NORMAL);
     wattrset(win, attr);
 
     va_start(args, format);
@@ -342,6 +343,7 @@ int center (WINDOW *win, int y, int attr, const char *format, ...)
     ret = mvwprintw(win, y, fill > 0 ? fill : 0, "%s", buf);
 
     wattrset(win, oldattr);
+    wbkgdset(win, oldattr);
 
     free(buf);
     return ret;
@@ -368,6 +370,7 @@ int attrpr (WINDOW *win, int attr, const char *format, ...)
 
 
     oldattr = getbkgd(win) & ~A_CHARTEXT;
+    wbkgdset(win, A_NORMAL);
     wattrset(win, attr);
 
     va_start(args, format);
@@ -375,6 +378,7 @@ int attrpr (WINDOW *win, int attr, const char *format, ...)
     va_end(args);
 
     wattrset(win, oldattr);
+    wbkgdset(win, oldattr);
 
     return ret;
 }
@@ -482,6 +486,7 @@ int gettxline (WINDOW *win, char *buf, int bufsize, bool multifield,
     wtimeout(win, -1);
 
     oldattr = getbkgd(win) & ~A_CHARTEXT;
+    wbkgdset(win, A_NORMAL);
     wattrset(win, attr & ~A_CHARTEXT);
     curs_set(CURS_ON);
 
@@ -1083,6 +1088,7 @@ int gettxline (WINDOW *win, char *buf, int bufsize, bool multifield,
     wattron(win, A_BOLD);
     mvwprintw(win, y, x, "%-*.*s", fieldsize, fieldsize, buf);
     wattrset(win, oldattr);
+    wbkgdset(win, oldattr);
     wrefresh(win);
 
     if (modified != NULL) {
@@ -1156,6 +1162,7 @@ bool answer_yesno (WINDOW *win)
     wtimeout(win, -1);
 
     oldattr = getbkgd(win) & ~A_CHARTEXT;
+    wbkgdset(win, A_NORMAL);
     wattron(win, A_BOLD);
     curs_set(CURS_ON);
 
@@ -1177,6 +1184,7 @@ bool answer_yesno (WINDOW *win)
     }
 
     wattrset(win, oldattr);
+    wbkgdset(win, oldattr);
     wrefresh(win);
     return (key == 'Y');
 }
@@ -1186,12 +1194,13 @@ bool answer_yesno (WINDOW *win)
   Function:   wait_for_key  - Print a message and wait for any key
   Arguments:  win           - Window to use
               y             - Line on which to print message
+              attr          - Window attributes to use for message
   Returns:    (nothing)
 
   This function prints a message, then waits for any key to be pressed.
 */
 
-void wait_for_key (WINDOW *win, int y)
+void wait_for_key (WINDOW *win, int y, int attr)
 {
     int key;
 
@@ -1201,7 +1210,7 @@ void wait_for_key (WINDOW *win, int y)
     wtimeout(win, -1);
 
     curs_set(CURS_OFF);
-    center(win, y, ATTR_WAITFORKEY_STR, "[ Press <SPACE> to continue ] ");
+    center(win, y, attr, "[ Press <SPACE> to continue ] ");
     wrefresh(win);
 
     key = wgetch(win);
diff --git a/src/intf.h b/src/intf.h
index 175acd4..b47d073 100644
--- a/src/intf.h
+++ b/src/intf.h
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ enum color_pairs {
 #define ATTR_INPUT_FIELD	ATTR(COLOR_PAIR(WHITE_ON_BLACK),           A_BOLD | '_')
 #define ATTR_KEYCODE_STR	ATTR(COLOR_PAIR(YELLOW_ON_BLACK) | A_BOLD, A_REVERSE)
 #define ATTR_HIGHLIGHT_STR	ATTR(COLOR_PAIR(YELLOW_ON_BLUE)  | A_BOLD, A_BOLD)
-#define ATTR_WAITFORKEY_STR	ATTR(COLOR_PAIR(CYAN_ON_BLUE),             A_NORMAL)
+#define ATTR_WAITNORMAL_STR	ATTR(COLOR_PAIR(CYAN_ON_BLUE),             A_NORMAL)
 
 
 /************************************************************************
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ extern int gettxstring (WINDOW *win, char **bufptr, bool multifield,
 			int y, int x, int fieldsize, int attr, bool *modified);
 
 extern bool answer_yesno (WINDOW *win);
-extern void wait_for_key (WINDOW *win, int y);
+extern void wait_for_key (WINDOW *win, int y, int attr);
 
 
 #endif /* included_INTF_H */