diff --git a/redbot/core/bot.py b/redbot/core/bot.py
index 85998fe01..f0cf23d74 100644
--- a/redbot/core/bot.py
+++ b/redbot/core/bot.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class RedBase(BotBase):
 
         self.counter = Counter()
         self.uptime = None
-        self.color = None
+        self.color = discord.Embed.Empty  # This is needed or color ends up 0x000000
 
         self.main_dir = bot_dir