diff --git a/source/ide/ide_methods.bas b/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
index ced332600..c21afad11 100644
--- a/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
+++ b/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
@@ -183,12 +183,8 @@ IF LEFT$(c$, 1) = CHR$(12) THEN
     COLOR 7, 1: LOCATE idewy - 3, 2: PRINT SPACE$(idewx - 2);: LOCATE idewy - 2, 2: PRINT SPACE$(idewx - 2);: LOCATE idewy - 1, 2: PRINT SPACE$(idewx - 2); 'clear status window
     LOCATE idewy - 3, 2
 
-    'Darken the interface while compilation is taking place,
-    'to give a sense of temporary unavailability:
-    TempDarkerBGColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5)
-    TempDarkerFGColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDETextColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDETextColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDETextColor) * .5)
-    _PALETTECOLOR 1, TempDarkerBGColor~&, 0
-    _PALETTECOLOR 13, TempDarkerFGColor~&, 0
+    DarkenFGBG -1
+    color 5
 
     IF os$ = "LNX" THEN
         PRINT "Creating executable file named " + CHR$(34) + f$ + extension$ + CHR$(34) + "..."
@@ -1345,15 +1341,12 @@ DO
                     GOTO specialchar
                 END IF
 
+                DarkenFGBG -1
+                COLOR 5
                 LOCATE idewy - 3, 2: PRINT "Starting program...";
             ELSE
-                'Darken the interface while compilation is taking place,
-                'to give a sense of temporary unavailability:
-                TempDarkerBGColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5)
-                TempDarkerFGColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDETextColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDETextColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDETextColor) * .5)
-                _PALETTECOLOR 1, TempDarkerBGColor~&, 0
-                _PALETTECOLOR 13, TempDarkerFGColor~&, 0
-
+                DarkenFGBG -1
+                color 5
                 IF os$ = "LNX" THEN
                     LOCATE idewy - 3, 2: PRINT "Creating executable file...";
                 ELSE
@@ -13492,5 +13485,32 @@ SUB UpdateIdeInfo
     PCOPY 3, 0
 END SUB
 
+SUB DarkenFGBG(Action AS _BYTE)
+    'Darken the interface while compilation is taking place,
+    'to give a sense of temporary unavailability:
+    IF Action = -1 THEN
+        TempDarkerBGColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDEBackgroundColor) * .5)
+        TempDarkerBG2Color~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDEBackgroundColor2) * .5, _GREEN32(IDEBackgroundColor2) * .5, _BLUE32(IDEBackgroundColor2) * .5)
+        TempDarkerFGColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDETextColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDETextColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDETextColor) * .5)
+        TempDarkerCommentColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDECommentColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDECommentColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDECommentColor) * .5)
+        TempDarkerMetaColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDEMetaCommandColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDEMetaCommandColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDEMetaCommandColor) * .5)
+        TempDarkerQuoteColor~& = _RGB32(_RED32(IDEQuoteColor) * .5, _GREEN32(IDEQuoteColor) * .5, _BLUE32(IDEQuoteColor) * .5)
+        _PALETTECOLOR 1, TempDarkerBGColor~&, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 13, TempDarkerFGColor~&, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 6, TempDarkerBG2Color~&, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 11, TempDarkerCommentColor~&, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 10, TempDarkerMetaColor~&, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 14, TempDarkerQuoteColor~&, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 5, _RGB32(255, 255, 255), 0
+    ELSE
+        _PALETTECOLOR 1, IDEBackgroundColor, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 6, IDEBackgroundColor2, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 11, IDECommentColor, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 10, IDEMetaCommandColor, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 14, IDEQuoteColor, 0
+        _PALETTECOLOR 13, IDETextColor, 0
+    ENDIF
+END SUB
+
 '$INCLUDE:'wiki\wiki_methods.bas'
 
diff --git a/source/qb64.bas b/source/qb64.bas
index e71064994..1cf9e07bc 100644
--- a/source/qb64.bas
+++ b/source/qb64.bas
@@ -1114,6 +1114,11 @@ IF C = 9 THEN 'run
 
     'hack! (a new message should be sent to the IDE stating C++ compilation was successful)
     COLOR 7, 1: LOCATE idewy - 3, 2: PRINT SPACE$(idewx - 2);: LOCATE idewy - 2, 2: PRINT SPACE$(idewx - 2);: LOCATE idewy - 1, 2: PRINT SPACE$(idewx - 2); 'clear status window
+    IF idemode THEN
+        'Darken fg/bg colors
+        DarkenFGBG -1
+        COLOR 5
+    END IF
     LOCATE idewy - 3, 2: PRINT "Starting program...";
     PCOPY 3, 0
 
@@ -1132,6 +1137,11 @@ IF C = 9 THEN 'run
         _KEYCLEAR
     END IF
 
+    IF idemode THEN
+        'Darken fg/bg colors
+        DarkenFGBG 0
+    END IF
+
     sendc$ = CHR$(6) 'ready
     GOTO sendcommand
 END IF
@@ -11904,8 +11914,7 @@ IF os$ = "WIN" THEN
         CHDIR "..\.."
         IF idemode THEN
             'Restore fg/bg colors
-            _PALETTECOLOR 1, IDEBackgroundColor, 0
-            _PALETTECOLOR 13, IDETextColor, 0
+            DarkenFGBG 0
         END IF
     END IF 'No_C_Compile_Mode=0
 
@@ -12193,8 +12202,7 @@ IF os$ = "LNX" THEN
         CHDIR "../.."
         IF idemode THEN
             'Restore fg/bg colors
-            _PALETTECOLOR 1, IDEBackgroundColor, 0
-            _PALETTECOLOR 13, IDETextColor, 0
+            DarkenFGBG 0
         END IF
     END IF