diff --git a/large_image/tilesource/utilities.py b/large_image/tilesource/utilities.py
index e77ae9726..6a69a2a49 100644
--- a/large_image/tilesource/utilities.py
+++ b/large_image/tilesource/utilities.py
@@ -447,8 +447,8 @@ def getPaletteColors(value):
         palette = value
     if palette is None:
         try:
-            color = PIL.ImageColor.getcolor(str(value), 'RGBA')
-            palette = ['#000', color]
+            PIL.ImageColor.getcolor(str(value), 'RGBA')
+            palette = ['#000', str(value)]
         except ValueError:
             pass
     if palette is None: