diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
index fccfedcd4..9e097c9ca 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
@@ -15725,7 +15725,7 @@ void printext256(int32_t xpos, int32_t ypos, int16_t col, int16_t backcol, const
 
 #ifdef USE_OPENGL
     if (!polymost_printext256(xpos,ypos,col,backcol,name,fontsize)) return;
-
+# if 0
     if (rendmode >= 3 && qsetmode == 200)
     {
         int32_t xx, yy;
@@ -15790,6 +15790,7 @@ void printext256(int32_t xpos, int32_t ypos, int16_t col, int16_t backcol, const
 
         return;
     }
+# endif
 #endif
 
     begindrawing(); //{{{
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/polymost.c b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/polymost.c
index 860a5b4f3..2cec31dfe 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/polymost.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/polymost.c
@@ -6089,7 +6089,7 @@ int32_t polymost_printext256(int32_t xpos, int32_t ypos, int16_t col, int16_t ba
     GLfloat tx, ty, txc, tyc;
     int32_t c;
     palette_t p,b;
-    int32_t arbackcol = backcol >= 0 ? backcol : 0;
+    int32_t arbackcol = (unsigned)backcol < 256 ? backcol : 0;
 
     // FIXME?
     if (col < 0)