diff --git a/Source/NSColor.m b/Source/NSColor.m
index 1ee5c5ac3..377636701 100644
--- a/Source/NSColor.m
+++ b/Source/NSColor.m
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@ systemColorWithName(NSString *name)
       // ignore alpha by default
       gnustep_gui_ignores_alpha = YES;
 
+      // We call this so that the local information is set up before
+      // initSystemColors() converts floats to strings.
+      [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
+      
       // Load or define the system colour list
       initSystemColors();
 
@@ -1247,6 +1251,7 @@ systemColorWithName(NSString *name)
 					alpha: 1.0];
 	}
     }
+
   return nil;
 }