diff --git a/bin/subiquity b/bin/subiquity
index a425a1cc..8e4ad3d3 100755
--- a/bin/subiquity
+++ b/bin/subiquity
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import argparse
 import sys
 import urwid
 import urwid.curses_display
-from subiquity.palette import STYLES
+from subiquity.palette import STYLES, STYLES_MONO
 from subiquity.controllers.welcome import WelcomeController
 
 
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ def main():
     opts = parse_options(sys.argv[1:])
     if opts.run_on_serial:
         screen = urwid.curses_display.Screen()
+        screen.register_palette(STYLES_MONO)
     else:
         screen = urwid.raw_display.Screen()
         screen.set_mouse_tracking(False)
         screen.set_terminal_properties(256)
-    screen.register_palette(STYLES)
+        screen.register_palette(STYLES)
 
     def unhandled_input(key):
         if key in ('Q', 'q', 'esc'):
diff --git a/subiquity/palette.py b/subiquity/palette.py
index f96758ba..732a947d 100644
--- a/subiquity/palette.py
+++ b/subiquity/palette.py
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ class Palette:
 
 STYLES = [('frame_header', Palette.white, Palette.black,
            'default', Palette.white, Palette.orange),
-          ('frame_footer', Palette.white, Palette.black),
+          ('frame_footer', Palette.white, Palette.black,
+           'default', Palette.white, Palette.orange),
           ('body', Palette.white, 'default', 'default',
-           Palette.white, Palette.orange),
+           Palette.white, Palette.black),
           ('button_primary', Palette.white, 'default',
            'default', Palette.white, Palette.cool_grey),
           ('button_primary focus', Palette.white,
@@ -50,3 +51,15 @@ STYLES = [('frame_header', Palette.white, Palette.black,
            'default', Palette.white, Palette.cool_grey),
           ('button_secondary focus', Palette.white,
            'default', 'default', Palette.white, Palette.light_orange)]
+
+STYLES_MONO = [('frame_header', Palette.white, Palette.black,
+                'default', Palette.white, Palette.black),
+               ('frame_footer', Palette.white, Palette.black,
+                'default', Palette.white, Palette.black),
+               ('body', 'default', 'default'),
+               ('button_primary', 'default', 'default'),
+               ('button_primary focus', 'default',
+                'default', 'underline,bold'),
+               ('button_secondary', 'default', 'default'),
+               ('button_secondary focus', 'default',
+                'default', 'underline')]