diff --git a/samples/richedit/wxllist.cpp b/samples/richedit/wxllist.cpp
index b5625309d2..bc00fa710e 100644
--- a/samples/richedit/wxllist.cpp
+++ b/samples/richedit/wxllist.cpp
@@ -1821,16 +1821,10 @@ wxLayoutList::SetFont(int family, int size, int style, int weight,
                       int underline, wxChar const *fg, wxChar const *bg)
 
 {
-   wxColour
-      *cfg = NULL,
-      *cbg = NULL;
+   wxColour cfg = wxTheColourDatabase->Find((fg)?fg:wxT("BLACK"));
+   wxColour cbg = wxTheColourDatabase->Find((bg)?bg:wxT("WHITE"));
 
-   if( fg )
-      cfg = wxTheColourDatabase->FindColour(fg);
-   if( bg )
-      cbg = wxTheColourDatabase->FindColour(bg);
-
-   SetFont(family,size,style,weight,underline,cfg,cbg);
+   SetFont(family,size,style,weight,underline,&cfg,&cbg);
 }
 
 void