diff --git a/pqcli/__main__.py b/pqcli/__main__.py
index dd37751..fb3233c 100644
--- a/pqcli/__main__.py
+++ b/pqcli/__main__.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
         "--no-colors",
         dest="colors",
         action="store_false",
-        help="Disable color highlighting in curses interface",
+        help="Disable color highlighting in curses and urwid interface",
     )
 
     parser.add_argument(
diff --git a/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py b/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py
index 0698cde..448f634 100644
--- a/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py
+++ b/pqcli/ui/urwid/__init__.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from ..base import BaseUserInterface
 
 TICK_FREQ = 0.1
 SAVE_FREQ = 60.0
-PALETTE: T.List[T.Tuple[str, ...]] = [
+PALETTE_COLORS: T.List[T.Tuple[str, ...]] = [
     ("logo", "light green", ""),
     ("button", "", ""),
     ("button-focus", "light red", "black"),
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ PALETTE: T.List[T.Tuple[str, ...]] = [
     ("scrollable", "", ""),
     ("scrollable-focus", "", ""),
 ]
+PALETTE_NO_COLORS: T.List[T.Tuple[str, ...]] = [
+    ("button-focus", "", "", "standout"),
+    ("linebox-focus", "", "", "standout"),
+    ("progressbar-normal", "black", "white"),
+    ("progressbar-done", "black", "white", "standout"),
+    ("progressbar-smooth", "black", "white"),
+]
 
 
 class ConfirmExitDialog(ConfirmView):
@@ -54,8 +61,12 @@ class UrwidUserInterface(BaseUserInterface):
         bind_commands()
 
         self.loop = urwid.MainLoop(
-            None, PALETTE, unhandled_input=self.unhandled_input
+            None,
+            PALETTE_COLORS if args.colors else PALETTE_NO_COLORS,
+            unhandled_input=self.unhandled_input,
         )
+        if not args.colors:
+            self.loop.screen.set_terminal_properties(1)
         self.old_views: T.List[urwid.Widget] = []
 
         self.switch_to_roster_view()