diff --git a/src/ludus/postlude.ld b/src/ludus/postlude.ld
index 6350e58..261ce3c 100644
--- a/src/ludus/postlude.ld
+++ b/src/ludus/postlude.ld
@@ -3,9 +3,18 @@
 
 if turtle_state() :visible? then render_turtle! () else nil
 
+let console_msgs = deref (console)
+set! (console, [])
+
+let (r, g, b, a) = deref (bgcolor)
+set! (bgcolor, colors :black)
+
+let draw_calls = deref (p5_calls)
+set! (p5_calls, []) 
+
 #{
 	& :result result is provided elsewhere
-	:errors [] & if we get here there are no errors
-	:console deref (console)
-	:draw deref (p5_calls)
+	& :errors [] & if we get here there are no errors
+	:console console_msgs
+	:draw concat ([(:background, r, g, b, a)], draw_calls)
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ludus/prelude.ld b/src/ludus/prelude.ld
index 21f27f0..d6dab87 100644
--- a/src/ludus/prelude.ld
+++ b/src/ludus/prelude.ld
@@ -658,12 +658,13 @@ fn range {
 
 &&& Turtle & other graphics
 let colors = @{
-	:white (255, 255, 255)
-	:light_gray (150, 150, 150)
-	:dark_gray (50, 50, 50)
-	:red (255, 0, 0)
-	:green (0, 255, 0)
-	:blue (0, 0, 255)
+	:white (255, 255, 255, 255)
+	:light_gray (150, 150, 150, 255)
+	:dark_gray (50, 50, 50, 255)
+	:red (255, 0, 0, 255)
+	:green (0, 255, 0, 255)
+	:blue (0, 0, 255, 255)
+	:black (0, 0, 0, 255)
 }
 
 & the initial turtle state
@@ -683,11 +684,9 @@ ref turtle_commands = []
 & and a list of turtle states
 ref turtle_states = [turtle_init]
 
-ref p5_calls = [
-	(:background, 0)
-]
+ref p5_calls = []
 
-ref bgcolor = (0, 0, 0, 255)
+ref bgcolor = colors :black
 
 fn add_call! (call) -> update! (p5_calls, append (_, call))