diff --git a/packages/dgrid/src/Table.ts b/packages/dgrid/src/Table.ts
index e11b0d2d0b..c1471f6c33 100644
--- a/packages/dgrid/src/Table.ts
+++ b/packages/dgrid/src/Table.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export class ColumnFormat extends PropertyExt {
                 const cellText = defaultFormatter.call(this, cell, row);
                 d3Select(cellElement)
                     .style("background", background)
-                    .style("color", Palette.textColor(background))
+                    .style("color", background && Palette.textColor(background))
                     .text(cellText?.html ?? cellText ?? cell)
                     ;
             };