diff --git a/awesome.c b/awesome.c
index c26d35a..da1268c 100644
--- a/awesome.c
+++ b/awesome.c
@@ -273,9 +273,10 @@ int
 main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
     const char *confpath = NULL;
-    int xfd, i, screen_nbr, opt;
+    int xfd, i, screen_nbr, opt, colors_nbr;
     ssize_t cmdlen = 1;
     client_t *c;
+    xcolor_init_request_t colors_reqs[2];
     static struct option long_options[] =
     {
         {"help",    0, NULL, 'h'},
@@ -396,9 +397,15 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     globalconf.screen_focus = globalconf.screens = p_new(screen_t, globalconf.screens_info->nscreen);
 
     /* init default font and colors */
+    colors_reqs[0] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection, &globalconf.colors.fg,
+                                           globalconf.default_screen, "black",
+                                           sizeof("black")-1);
+
+    colors_reqs[1] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection, &globalconf.colors.bg,
+                                           globalconf.default_screen, "white",
+                                           sizeof("white")-1);
+
     globalconf.font = draw_font_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "sans 8");
-    xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.fg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "black", sizeof("black")-1);
-    xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.bg, globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen, "white", sizeof("white")-1);
 
     /* init cursors */
     globalconf.cursor[CurNormal] = xutil_cursor_new(globalconf.connection, XUTIL_CURSOR_LEFT_PTR);
@@ -411,6 +418,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     globalconf.cursor[CurBotRight] = xutil_cursor_new(globalconf.connection, XUTIL_CURSOR_BOTTOM_RIGHT_CORNER);
     globalconf.cursor[CurBotLeft] = xutil_cursor_new(globalconf.connection, XUTIL_CURSOR_BOTTOM_LEFT_CORNER);
 
+    for(colors_nbr = 0; colors_nbr < 2; colors_nbr++)
+      xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection, colors_reqs[colors_nbr]);
+
     /* init lua */
     luaA_init();
 
diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index fc46f0f..c2737fa 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -1125,7 +1125,11 @@ luaA_client_newindex(lua_State *L)
         break;
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len))
-           && xcolor_init(&(*c)->border_color, globalconf.connection, (*c)->phys_screen, buf, len))
+           && xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                      &(*c)->border_color,
+                                                      (*c)->phys_screen, buf,
+                                                      len)))
             xcb_change_window_attributes(globalconf.connection, (*c)->win,
                                          XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL, &(*c)->border_color.pixel);
         break;
diff --git a/common/draw.c b/common/draw.c
index b211735..7c01ef9 100644
--- a/common/draw.c
+++ b/common/draw.c
@@ -219,6 +219,9 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
 {
     draw_parser_data_t *data = p->priv;
 
+    xcolor_init_request_t reqs[3];
+    int8_t i, bg_color_nbr = -1, reqs_nbr = -1;
+
     /* hack: markup.c validates tags so we can avoid strcmps here */
     switch (*elem) {
       case 'b':
@@ -227,11 +230,13 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                 switch(a_tokenize(*names, -1))
                 {
                   case A_TK_COLOR:
-                    data->has_bg_color = xcolor_init(&data->bg_color,
-                                                     data->connection,
-                                                     data->phys_screen,
-                                                     *values,
-                                                     a_strlen(*values));
+                    reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(data->connection,
+                                                            &data->bg_color,
+                                                            data->phys_screen,
+                                                            *values,
+                                                            a_strlen(*values));
+
+                    bg_color_nbr = reqs_nbr;
                     break;
                   case A_TK_IMAGE:
                     if(data->bg_image)
@@ -251,8 +256,11 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                 switch(a_tokenize(*names, -1))
                 {
                   case A_TK_COLOR:
-                    xcolor_init(&data->border.color, data->connection,
-                                data->phys_screen, *values, a_strlen(*values));
+                    reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(data->connection,
+                                                            &data->border.color,
+                                                            data->phys_screen,
+                                                            *values,
+                                                            a_strlen(*values));
                     break;
                   case A_TK_WIDTH:
                     data->border.width = atoi(*values);
@@ -269,8 +277,11 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                 data->align = draw_align_fromstr(*values, -1);
                 break;
               case A_TK_SHADOW:
-                xcolor_init(&data->shadow.color, data->connection,
-                            data->phys_screen, *values, a_strlen(*values));
+                reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(data->connection,
+                                                        &data->shadow.color,
+                                                        data->phys_screen,
+                                                        *values,
+                                                        a_strlen(*values));
                 break;
               case A_TK_SHADOW_OFFSET:
                 data->shadow.offset = atoi(*values);
@@ -294,6 +305,12 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
             }
         break;
     }
+
+    for(i = 0; i <= reqs_nbr; i++)
+        if(i == bg_color_nbr)
+            data->has_bg_color = xcolor_init_reply(data->connection, reqs[i]);
+        else
+            xcolor_init_reply(data->connection, reqs[i]);
 }
 
 bool
@@ -1084,29 +1101,36 @@ draw_align_tostr(alignment_t a)
 
 #define RGB_COLOR_8_TO_16(i) (65535 * ((i) & 0xff) / 255)
 
-/** Initialize an X color.
- * \param color xcolor_t struct to store color into.
+/** Send a request to initialize a X color.
  * \param conn Connection ref.
+ * \param color xcolor_t struct to store color into.
  * \param phys_screen Physical screen number.
  * \param colstr Color specification.
- * \return True if color allocation was successfull.
+ * \return request informations.
  */
-bool
-xcolor_init(xcolor_t *color, xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen,
-            const char *colstr, ssize_t len)
+xcolor_init_request_t
+xcolor_init_unchecked(xcb_connection_t *conn, xcolor_t *color, int phys_screen,
+                      const char *colstr, ssize_t len)
 {
     xcb_screen_t *s = xutil_screen_get(conn, phys_screen);
+    xcolor_init_request_t req;
     unsigned long colnum;
-    uint16_t red, green, blue, alpha = 0xffff;
+    uint16_t red, green, blue;
+
+    memset(&req, '\0', sizeof(xcolor_init_request_t));
 
     if(!len)
-        return false;
+    {
+        req.has_error = true;
+        return req;
+    }
+
+    req.alpha = 0xffff;
+    req.color = color;
 
     /* The color is given in RGB value */
     if(colstr[0] == '#')
     {
-        xcb_alloc_color_cookie_t cookie;
-        xcb_alloc_color_reply_t *hexa_color;
         char *p;
 
         if(len == 7)
@@ -1121,60 +1145,84 @@ xcolor_init(xcolor_t *color, xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen,
             colnum = strtoul(colstr + 1, &p, 16);
             if(p - colstr != 9)
                 goto invalid;
-            alpha = RGB_COLOR_8_TO_16(colnum);
+            req.alpha = RGB_COLOR_8_TO_16(colnum);
             colnum >>= 8;
         }
         else
         {
           invalid:
             warn("awesome: error, invalid color '%s'", colstr);
-            return false;
+            req.has_error = true;
+            return req;
         }
 
         red   = RGB_COLOR_8_TO_16(colnum >> 16);
         green = RGB_COLOR_8_TO_16(colnum >> 8);
         blue  = RGB_COLOR_8_TO_16(colnum);
 
-        cookie = xcb_alloc_color_unchecked(conn, s->default_colormap,
-                                           red, green, blue),
-        hexa_color = xcb_alloc_color_reply(conn, cookie, NULL);
+        req.is_hexa = true;
+        req.cookie_hexa = xcb_alloc_color_unchecked(conn, s->default_colormap,
+                                                        red, green, blue);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        req.is_hexa = false;
+        req.cookie_named = xcb_alloc_named_color_unchecked(conn, s->default_colormap, len,
+                                                               colstr);
+    }
+
+    req.has_error = false;
+    req.colstr = colstr;
+
+    return req;
+}
+
+/** Initialize a X color.
+ * \param conn Connection ref.
+ * \param req xcolor_init request.
+ * \return True if color allocation was successfull.
+ */
+bool
+xcolor_init_reply(xcb_connection_t *conn,
+                  xcolor_init_request_t req)
+{
+    if(req.has_error)
+        return false;
+
+    if(req.is_hexa)
+    {
+        xcb_alloc_color_reply_t *hexa_color;
 
-        if(hexa_color)
+        if((hexa_color = xcb_alloc_color_reply(conn, req.cookie_hexa, NULL)))
         {
-            color->pixel = hexa_color->pixel;
-            color->red   = hexa_color->red;
-            color->green = hexa_color->green;
-            color->blue  = hexa_color->blue;
-            color->alpha = alpha;
-            color->initialized = true;
+            req.color->pixel = hexa_color->pixel;
+            req.color->red   = hexa_color->red;
+            req.color->green = hexa_color->green;
+            req.color->blue  = hexa_color->blue;
+            req.color->alpha = req.alpha;
+            req.color->initialized = true;
             p_delete(&hexa_color);
             return true;
         }
     }
     else
     {
-        xcb_alloc_named_color_reply_t *named_color = NULL;
-        xcb_alloc_named_color_cookie_t cookie;
-
-        cookie = xcb_alloc_named_color_unchecked(conn, s->default_colormap, len,
-                                                 colstr),
-        named_color = xcb_alloc_named_color_reply(conn, cookie, NULL);
+        xcb_alloc_named_color_reply_t *named_color;
 
-        if(named_color)
+        if((named_color = xcb_alloc_named_color_reply(conn, req.cookie_named, NULL)))
         {
-            color->pixel = named_color->pixel;
-            color->red   = named_color->visual_red;
-            color->green = named_color->visual_green;
-            color->blue  = named_color->visual_blue;
-            color->alpha = 0xffff;
-            color->alpha = alpha;
-            color->initialized = true;
+            req.color->pixel = named_color->pixel;
+            req.color->red   = named_color->visual_red;
+            req.color->green = named_color->visual_green;
+            req.color->blue  = named_color->visual_blue;
+            req.color->alpha = req.alpha;
+            req.color->initialized = true;
             p_delete(&named_color);
             return true;
         }
     }
 
-    warn("awesome: error, cannot allocate color '%s'", colstr);
+    warn("awesome: error, cannot allocate color '%s'", req.colstr);
     return false;
 }
 
diff --git a/common/draw.h b/common/draw.h
index 99af158..dd0a430 100644
--- a/common/draw.h
+++ b/common/draw.h
@@ -220,7 +220,24 @@ area_t draw_text_extents(xcb_connection_t *, int, font_t *, const char *, ssize_
 alignment_t draw_align_fromstr(const char *, ssize_t);
 const char *draw_align_tostr(alignment_t);
 
-bool xcolor_init(xcolor_t *c, xcb_connection_t *, int, const char *, ssize_t);
+typedef struct
+{
+    union
+    {
+        xcb_alloc_color_cookie_t cookie_hexa;
+        xcb_alloc_named_color_cookie_t cookie_named;
+    };
+
+    uint16_t alpha;
+    xcolor_t *color;
+    bool is_hexa, has_error;
+    const char *colstr;
+} xcolor_init_request_t;
+
+xcolor_init_request_t xcolor_init_unchecked(xcb_connection_t *, xcolor_t *, int,
+                                            const char *, ssize_t);
+
+bool xcolor_init_reply(xcb_connection_t *, xcolor_init_request_t);
 
 void area_array_remove(area_array_t *, area_t);
 
diff --git a/lua.c b/lua.c
index 13c0144..8f768ce 100644
--- a/lua.c
+++ b/lua.c
@@ -372,16 +372,26 @@ luaA_colors_set(lua_State *L)
 {
     const char *buf;
     size_t len;
+    int8_t colors_nbr = -1, i;
+    xcolor_init_request_t reqs[2];
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 1, "fg", NULL, &len)))
-       xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+       reqs[++colors_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                  &globalconf.colors.fg,
+                                                  globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                  buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 1, "bg", NULL, &len)))
-       xcolor_init(&globalconf.colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+       reqs[++colors_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                  &globalconf.colors.bg,
+                                                  globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                  buf, len);
+
+    for(i = 0; i <= colors_nbr; i++)
+       xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection, reqs[i]);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/statusbar.c b/statusbar.c
index 20c19b8..2a6398b 100644
--- a/statusbar.c
+++ b/statusbar.c
@@ -436,6 +436,8 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
     statusbar_t *sb;
     const char *buf;
     size_t len;
+    xcolor_init_request_t reqs[2];
+    int8_t i, reqs_nbr = -1;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 2);
 
@@ -448,13 +450,17 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
 
     sb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "fg", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&sb->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &sb->colors.fg,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     sb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "bg", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&sb->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &sb->colors.bg,                                                 
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "align", "left", &len);
     sb->align = draw_align_fromstr(buf, len);
@@ -472,6 +478,9 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
 
     sb->screen = SCREEN_UNDEF;
 
+    for(i = 0; i <= reqs_nbr; i++)
+        xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection, reqs[i]);
+
     return luaA_statusbar_userdata_new(L, sb);
 }
 
@@ -615,8 +624,11 @@ luaA_statusbar_newindex(lua_State *L)
         break;
       case A_TK_FG:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
-            if(xcolor_init(&(*statusbar)->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &(*statusbar)->colors.fg,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                       buf, len)))
             {
                 if((*statusbar)->ctx)
                     (*statusbar)->ctx->fg = (*statusbar)->colors.fg;
@@ -625,8 +637,10 @@ luaA_statusbar_newindex(lua_State *L)
         break;
       case A_TK_BG:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
-            if(xcolor_init(&(*statusbar)->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &(*statusbar)->colors.bg,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len)))
             {
                 if((*statusbar)->ctx)
                     (*statusbar)->ctx->bg = (*statusbar)->colors.bg;
diff --git a/titlebar.c b/titlebar.c
index 3cf2ca4..976fd0d 100644
--- a/titlebar.c
+++ b/titlebar.c
@@ -312,6 +312,8 @@ luaA_titlebar_new(lua_State *L)
     titlebar_t *tb;
     const char *buf;
     size_t len;
+    xcolor_init_request_t reqs[3];
+    int8_t i, reqs_nbr = -1;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 2);
 
@@ -331,21 +333,30 @@ luaA_titlebar_new(lua_State *L)
 
     tb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "fg", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&tb->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &tb->colors.fg,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     tb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "bg", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&tb->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &tb->colors.bg,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     tb->border.color = globalconf.colors.fg;
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 2, "border_color", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&tb->border.color, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &tb->border.color,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     tb->border.width = luaA_getopt_number(L, 2, "border_width", 0);
 
+    for(i = 0; i <= reqs_nbr; i++)
+        xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection, reqs[i]);
+
     return luaA_titlebar_userdata_new(globalconf.L, tb);
 }
 
@@ -411,22 +422,30 @@ luaA_titlebar_newindex(lua_State *L)
         break;
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
-            if(xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->border.color, globalconf.connection,
-                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &(*titlebar)->border.color,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen, buf, len)))
                 if((*titlebar)->sw)
                     xcb_change_window_attributes(globalconf.connection, (*titlebar)->sw->window,
                                                  XCB_CW_BORDER_PIXEL, &(*titlebar)->border.color.pixel);
         return 0;
       case A_TK_FG:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
-            if(xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->colors.fg, globalconf.connection,
-                          globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &(*titlebar)->colors.fg,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                       buf, len)))
                 (*titlebar)->need_update = true;
         return 0;
       case A_TK_BG:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
-            if(xcolor_init(&(*titlebar)->colors.bg, globalconf.connection,
-                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &(*titlebar)->colors.bg,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                       buf, len)))
                 (*titlebar)->need_update = true;
         return 0;
       case A_TK_WIDGETS:
diff --git a/widgets/graph.c b/widgets/graph.c
index 54695e1..8ae55f6 100644
--- a/widgets/graph.c
+++ b/widgets/graph.c
@@ -288,6 +288,8 @@ luaA_graph_plot_properties_set(lua_State *L)
     const char *title, *buf;
     size_t len;
     plot_t *plot;
+    xcolor_init_request_t reqs[3];
+    int8_t i, reqs_nbr = -1;
 
     title = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
     luaA_checktable(L, 3);
@@ -300,16 +302,22 @@ luaA_graph_plot_properties_set(lua_State *L)
         plot = graph_plot_add(d, title);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg", NULL, &len)))
-       xcolor_init(&plot->color_start, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                               &plot->color_start,
+                                               globalconf.default_screen,
+                                               buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL, &len)))
-       xcolor_init(&plot->pcolor_center, globalconf.connection,
-                   globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                               &plot->pcolor_center,
+                                               globalconf.default_screen,
+                                               buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&plot->pcolor_end, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                               &plot->pcolor_end,
+                                               globalconf.default_screen,
+                                               buf, len);
 
     plot->vertical_gradient = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "vertical_gradient", plot->vertical_gradient);
     plot->scale = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "scale", plot->scale);
@@ -334,6 +342,9 @@ luaA_graph_plot_properties_set(lua_State *L)
             break;
         }
 
+    for(i = 0; i <= reqs_nbr; i++)
+        xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection, reqs[i]);
+
     widget_invalidate_bywidget(*widget);
 
     return 0;
@@ -511,8 +522,11 @@ luaA_graph_newindex(lua_State *L, awesome_token_t token)
       case A_TK_BG:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
         {
-            if(xcolor_init(&color, globalconf.connection,
-                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &color,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                       buf, len)))
                 d->bg = color;
             else
                 return 0;
@@ -521,8 +535,11 @@ luaA_graph_newindex(lua_State *L, awesome_token_t token)
       case A_TK_BORDER_COLOR:
         if((buf = luaL_checklstring(L, 3, &len)))
         {
-            if(xcolor_init(&color, globalconf.connection,
-                           globalconf.default_screen, buf, len))
+            if(xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection,
+                                 xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                       &color,
+                                                       globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                       buf, len)))
                 d->border_color = color;
             else
                 return 0;
diff --git a/widgets/progressbar.c b/widgets/progressbar.c
index 0d561fa..6d8eb9a 100644
--- a/widgets/progressbar.c
+++ b/widgets/progressbar.c
@@ -416,6 +416,8 @@ luaA_progressbar_bar_properties_set(lua_State *L)
     const char *buf, *title = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
     bar_t *bar;
     progressbar_data_t *d = (*widget)->data;
+    xcolor_init_request_t reqs[6];
+    int8_t i, reqs_nbr = -1;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 3);
 
@@ -429,28 +431,40 @@ luaA_progressbar_bar_properties_set(lua_State *L)
         bar = progressbar_bar_add(d, title);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&bar->fg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &bar->fg,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_off", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&bar->fg_off, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &bar->fg_off,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "bg", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&bar->bg, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &bar->bg, 
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "border_color", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&bar->border_color, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &bar->border_color, 
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_center", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&bar->fg_center, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &bar->fg_center,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     if((buf = luaA_getopt_lstring(L, 3, "fg_end", NULL, &len)))
-        xcolor_init(&bar->fg_end, globalconf.connection,
-                    globalconf.default_screen, buf, len);
+        reqs[++reqs_nbr] = xcolor_init_unchecked(globalconf.connection,
+                                                 &bar->fg_end,
+                                                 globalconf.default_screen,
+                                                 buf, len);
 
     bar->min_value = luaA_getopt_number(L, 3, "min_value", bar->min_value);
     /* hack to prevent max_value beeing less than min_value
@@ -469,6 +483,9 @@ luaA_progressbar_bar_properties_set(lua_State *L)
 
     bar->reverse = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 3, "reverse", bar->reverse);
 
+    for(i = 0; i <= reqs_nbr; i++)
+        xcolor_init_reply(globalconf.connection, reqs[i]);
+
     widget_invalidate_bywidget(*widget);
 
     return 0;