diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c
index bd826cc8d..39711afac 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c
@@ -4636,12 +4636,7 @@ DETONATEB:
                         }
 
                         if (sprite[s->owner].picnum != APLAYER)
-                        {
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.r = 0;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.g = 32;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.b = 0;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.f = 32;
-                        }
+                            P_PalFrom(g_player[p].ps, 32, 0,32,0);
 
                         if (s->owner != i || ud.respawn_items == 0)
                         {
@@ -4718,10 +4713,8 @@ DETONATEB:
                     A_PlaySound(SHORT_CIRCUIT,i);
 
                     sprite[g_player[p].ps->i].extra --;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.f = 32;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.r = 32;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.g = 0;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.b = 0;
+
+                    P_PalFrom(g_player[p].ps, 32, 32,0,0);
                 }
                 t[0] += 128;
                 if (t[3] == 0)
@@ -5041,10 +5034,7 @@ ACTOR_STATIC void G_MoveMisc(void)  // STATNUM 5
                 p = A_FindPlayer(s,&x);
                 if (x < 512)
                 {
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.f = 32;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.r = 32;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.g = 0;
-                    g_player[p].ps->pals.b = 0;
+                    P_PalFrom(g_player[p].ps, 32, 32,0,0);
                     sprite[g_player[p].ps->i].extra -= 4;
                 }
 
@@ -5256,10 +5246,8 @@ ACTOR_STATIC void G_MoveMisc(void)  // STATNUM 5
                             if (!A_CheckSoundPlaying(g_player[p].ps->i,DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN))
                                 A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,g_player[p].ps->i);
                             sprite[g_player[p].ps->i].extra --;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.f = 32;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.r = 16;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.g = 0;
-                            g_player[p].ps->pals.b = 0;
+
+                            P_PalFrom(g_player[p].ps, 32, 16,0,0);
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -7442,10 +7430,8 @@ ACTOR_STATIC void G_MoveEffectors(void)   //STATNUM 3
                                         A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,g_player[p].ps->i);
                                     A_PlaySound(SHORT_CIRCUIT,g_player[p].ps->i);
                                     sprite[g_player[p].ps->i].extra -= 8+(krand()&7);
-                                    g_player[p].ps->pals.f = 32;
-                                    g_player[p].ps->pals.r = 16;
-                                    g_player[p].ps->pals.g = 0;
-                                    g_player[p].ps->pals.b = 0;
+
+                                    P_PalFrom(g_player[p].ps, 32, 16,0,0);
                                 }
                                 break;
                             }
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
index 4d874959a..e0cd8cdcc 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
@@ -3323,12 +3323,9 @@ nullquote:
             }
             else
             {
-                palette_t *const pals = &g_player[vm.g_p].ps->pals;
+                uint8_t f=*insptr++, r=*insptr++, g=*insptr++, b=*insptr++;
 
-                pals->f = *insptr++;
-                pals->r = *insptr++;
-                pals->g = *insptr++;
-                pals->b = *insptr++;
+                P_PalFrom(g_player[vm.g_p].ps, f, r,g,b);
             }
             continue;
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/player.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/player.c
index 3bb30dc93..6d3e909d8 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/player.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/player.c
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ extern int32_t g_levelTextTime, ticrandomseed;
 int32_t g_numObituaries = 0;
 int32_t g_numSelfObituaries = 0;
 
+void P_PalFrom(DukePlayer_t *p, uint8_t f, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b)
+{
+    p->pals.f = f;
+    p->pals.r = r;
+    p->pals.g = g;
+    p->pals.b = b;
+}
+
 void P_UpdateScreenPal(DukePlayer_t *p)
 {
     int32_t intowater = 0;
@@ -101,10 +109,7 @@ static void P_IncurDamage(DukePlayer_t *p)
 
 void P_QuickKill(DukePlayer_t *p)
 {
-    p->pals.r = 48;
-    p->pals.g = 48;
-    p->pals.b = 48;
-    p->pals.f = 48;
+    P_PalFrom(p, 48, 48,48,48);
 
     sprite[p->i].extra = 0;
     sprite[p->i].cstat |= 32768;
@@ -3604,10 +3609,7 @@ void P_CheckTouchDamage(DukePlayer_t *p,int32_t j)
                 sprite[p->i].extra -= 5;
 
                 p->hurt_delay = 16;
-                p->pals.f = 32;
-                p->pals.r = 32;
-                p->pals.g = 0;
-                p->pals.b = 0;
+                P_PalFrom(p, 32, 32,0,0);
                 A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,p->i);
             }
         }
@@ -3632,10 +3634,7 @@ void P_CheckTouchDamage(DukePlayer_t *p,int32_t j)
             sprite[p->i].extra -= 5;
 
             p->hurt_delay = 16;
-            p->pals.f = 32;
-            p->pals.r = 32;
-            p->pals.g = 0;
-            p->pals.b = 0;
+            P_PalFrom(p, 32, 32,0,0);
 
             p->vel.x = -(sintable[(p->ang+512)&2047]<<8);
             p->vel.y = -(sintable[(p->ang)&2047]<<8);
@@ -3684,10 +3683,9 @@ int32_t P_CheckFloorDamage(DukePlayer_t *p, int32_t j)
             {
                 if (!A_CheckSoundPlaying(p->i,DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN))
                     A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,p->i);
-                p->pals.r = 64;
-                p->pals.g = 64;
-                p->pals.b = 64;
-                p->pals.f = 32;
+
+                P_PalFrom(p, 32, 64,64,64);
+
                 s->extra -= 1+(krand()&3);
                 if (!A_CheckSoundPlaying(p->i,SHORT_CIRCUIT))
                     A_PlaySound(SHORT_CIRCUIT,p->i);
@@ -3703,10 +3701,8 @@ int32_t P_CheckFloorDamage(DukePlayer_t *p, int32_t j)
             {
                 if (!A_CheckSoundPlaying(p->i,DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN))
                     A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,p->i);
-                p->pals.r = 0;
-                p->pals.g = 8;
-                p->pals.b = 0;
-                p->pals.f = 32;
+
+                P_PalFrom(p, 32, 0,8,0);
                 s->extra -= 1+(krand()&3);
             }
         }
@@ -3720,10 +3716,8 @@ int32_t P_CheckFloorDamage(DukePlayer_t *p, int32_t j)
             {
                 if (!A_CheckSoundPlaying(p->i,DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN))
                     A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,p->i);
-                p->pals.r = 8;
-                p->pals.g = 0;
-                p->pals.b = 0;
-                p->pals.f = 32;
+
+                P_PalFrom(p, 32, 8,0,0);
                 s->extra -= 1+(krand()&3);
             }
         }
@@ -3767,10 +3761,8 @@ void P_FragPlayer(int32_t snum)
 
     if (s->pal != 1)
     {
-        p->pals.r = 63;
-        p->pals.g = 0;
-        p->pals.b = 0;
-        p->pals.f = 63;
+        P_PalFrom(p, 63, 63,0,0);
+
         p->pos.z -= (16<<8);
         s->z -= (16<<8);
 
@@ -4398,10 +4390,8 @@ int32_t P_DoFist(DukePlayer_t *p)
     {
         if (ud.recstat == 1) G_CloseDemoWrite();
         S_PlaySound(PIPEBOMB_EXPLODE);
-        p->pals.r = 64;
-        p->pals.g = 64;
-        p->pals.b = 64;
-        p->pals.f = 48;
+
+        P_PalFrom(p, 48, 64,64,64);
     }
 
     if (p->fist_incs > 42)
@@ -5043,10 +5033,8 @@ void P_ProcessInput(int32_t snum)
                             if (s->extra <= 0)
                             {
                                 A_PlaySound(SQUISHED,p->i);
-                                p->pals.r = 63;
-                                p->pals.g = 0;
-                                p->pals.b = 0;
-                                p->pals.f = 63;
+
+//                                P_PalFrom(p, 63, 63,0,0);
                             }
                             else
                             {
@@ -5054,10 +5042,7 @@ void P_ProcessInput(int32_t snum)
                                 A_PlaySound(DUKE_LAND_HURT,p->i);
                             }
 
-                            p->pals.r = 16;
-                            p->pals.g = 0;
-                            p->pals.b = 0;
-                            p->pals.f = 32;
+                            P_PalFrom(p, 32, 16,0,0);
                         }
                         else if (p->vel.z > 2048)
                             A_PlaySound(DUKE_LAND,p->i);
@@ -5212,10 +5197,8 @@ void P_ProcessInput(int32_t snum)
             {
                 if (!A_CheckSoundPlaying(p->i,DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN))
                     A_PlaySound(DUKE_LONGTERM_PAIN,p->i);
-                p->pals.r = 0;
-                p->pals.g = 8;
-                p->pals.b = 0;
-                p->pals.f = 32;
+
+                P_PalFrom(p, 32, 0,8,0);
                 s->extra--;
             }
         }
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h
index 8145eb4c9..c828cddf9 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h
@@ -289,5 +289,6 @@ void        P_ProcessWeapon(int32_t snum);
 void        P_QuickKill(DukePlayer_t *p);
 void        P_SelectNextInvItem(DukePlayer_t *p);
 void        P_UpdateScreenPal(DukePlayer_t *p);
+void P_PalFrom(DukePlayer_t *p, uint8_t f, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
index 0cb743ef7..32a9abebc 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
@@ -3300,10 +3300,8 @@ void P_CheckSectors(int32_t snum)
             case PLUG__STATIC:
                 A_PlaySound(SHORT_CIRCUIT,p->i);
                 sprite[p->i].extra -= 2+(krand()&3);
-                p->pals.r = 48;
-                p->pals.g = 48;
-                p->pals.b = 64;
-                p->pals.f = 32;
+
+                P_PalFrom(p, 32, 48,48,64);
                 break;
 
             case VIEWSCREEN__STATIC: