diff --git a/src/plugins/irc/irc-nick.c b/src/plugins/irc/irc-nick.c
index ead04f71d..d97426648 100644
--- a/src/plugins/irc/irc-nick.c
+++ b/src/plugins/irc/irc-nick.c
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ const char *
 irc_nick_get_prefix_color_name (struct t_irc_server *server,
                                 struct t_irc_nick *nick)
 {
-    static char *default_color = "chat";
+    static char *default_color = "";
     const char *prefix_modes, *color;
     char mode[2];
     int i, index;