diff --git a/src/conky.c b/src/conky.c
index 5b2c5c3b..e2df1736 100644
--- a/src/conky.c
+++ b/src/conky.c
@@ -5196,13 +5196,13 @@ static void draw_line(char *s)
 	float gradient_factor = 0;
 	float gradient_update = 0;
 	unsigned long tmpcolour = current_color;
-	if (specials[special_index].last_colour != specials[special_index].first_colour) {
+	if (specials[special_index].last_colour != 0 && specials[special_index].first_colour != 0) {
 		tmpcolour = specials[special_index].last_colour;
 		gradient_size = gradient_max(specials[special_index].last_colour, specials[special_index].first_colour);
 		gradient_factor = (float)gradient_size / (w - 2);
 	}
 	for (i = w - 2; i > -1; i--) {
-		if (specials[special_index].last_colour != specials[special_index].first_colour) {
+		if (specials[special_index].last_colour != 0 && specials[special_index].first_colour != 0) {
 			XSetForeground(display, window.gc, tmpcolour);
 			gradient_update += gradient_factor;
 			while (gradient_update > 0) {