diff --git a/public/javascripts/effects.js b/public/javascripts/effects.js
index 65aed23..b4b8479 100644
--- a/public/javascripts/effects.js
+++ b/public/javascripts/effects.js
@@ -486,9 +486,9 @@ Effect.Highlight = Class.create(Effect.Base, {
       this.oldStyle.backgroundImage = this.element.getStyle('background-image');
       this.element.setStyle({backgroundImage: 'none'});
     }
-    if (!this.options.endcolor)
+    if (!(this.options.endcolor || this.options.endcolor == ""))
       this.options.endcolor = this.element.getStyle('background-color').parseColor('#ffffff');
-    if (!this.options.restorecolor)
+    if (!(this.options.restorecolor || this.options.restorecolor == ""))
       this.options.restorecolor = this.element.getStyle('background-color');
     // init color calculations
     this._base  = $R(0,2).map(function(i){ return parseInt(this.options.startcolor.slice(i*2+1,i*2+3),16) }.bind(this));