diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tiny/bochs.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/tiny/bochs.c
index 08de13774862..a51262289aef 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tiny/bochs.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tiny/bochs.c
@@ -309,6 +309,8 @@ static void bochs_hw_fini(struct drm_device *dev)
 static void bochs_hw_blank(struct bochs_device *bochs, bool blank)
 {
 	DRM_DEBUG_DRIVER("hw_blank %d\n", blank);
+	/* enable color bit (so VGA_IS1_RC access works) */
+	bochs_vga_writeb(bochs, VGA_MIS_W, VGA_MIS_COLOR);
 	/* discard ar_flip_flop */
 	(void)bochs_vga_readb(bochs, VGA_IS1_RC);
 	/* blank or unblank; we need only update index and set 0x20 */