diff --git a/geom/geomUtils.cpp b/geom/geomUtils.cpp
index 2fe6d71..3203dee 100644
--- a/geom/geomUtils.cpp
+++ b/geom/geomUtils.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ static const char * ss_xgraph_colors[] =
    "#6C7B8B", "#FF00FF", "#00CDCD", "navy", "gold"     // 11, ..., 15
   };
 
+void setCurrentDefaultColor(int color){
+  ss_default_color_ind = color;
+}
+
 std::string getCurrentDefaultColor() {
   ss_default_color_ind++;
   if (ss_default_color_ind >= 15){
diff --git a/geom/geomUtils.h b/geom/geomUtils.h
index bb8dbda..f92f72d 100644
--- a/geom/geomUtils.h
+++ b/geom/geomUtils.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <chrono>
 
 std::string getCurrentDefaultColor();
+void setCurrentDefaultColor(int color);
 
 struct dPoint{
   double x, y;
diff --git a/gui/polyView.cpp b/gui/polyView.cpp
index acbad53..595cee2 100644
--- a/gui/polyView.cpp
+++ b/gui/polyView.cpp
@@ -3304,6 +3304,7 @@ void polyView::redo() {
 
 
 void polyView::reloadPolys() {
+  setCurrentDefaultColor(0);// reset default color so that reloaded polygons have the same color as before
   readAllPolys();
   refreshPixmap();
 }