diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/bar.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/bar.py
index c3ef53b1b..3edb8128a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/bar.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/bar.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class StatusBar(QWidget):
     resized = pyqtSignal('QRect')
     moved = pyqtSignal('QPoint')
     _severity = None
-    _color_flags = []
+    _color_flags = None
 
     STYLESHEET = _generate_stylesheet()