diff --git a/private_dot_config/kitty/private_tests/private_test_tab_bar_colors.py b/private_dot_config/kitty/private_tests/private_test_tab_bar_colors.py
index 8ecddac..ae91e78 100644
--- a/private_dot_config/kitty/private_tests/private_test_tab_bar_colors.py
+++ b/private_dot_config/kitty/private_tests/private_test_tab_bar_colors.py
@@ -99,6 +99,13 @@ for theme_bg in (0xF8F8F8, 0x1C2836):
             (as_rgb(HOST_FG), as_rgb(HOST_BG)),
             "active tab takes the host color",
         ),
+        (
+            # What __kitty_tab_set actually sends: host background, no fg
+            # override, so the shared active foreground applies.
+            TabBarData("tab", is_active=True, active_bg=HOST_BG),
+            (as_rgb(theme_bg), as_rgb(HOST_BG)),
+            "active tab without an fg override keeps the shared foreground",
+        ),
         (
             TabBarData("tab", is_active=False, inactive_fg=HOST_BG),
             (as_rgb(HOST_BG), as_rgb(theme_bg)),
diff --git a/private_dot_config/private_fish/functions/__kitty_tab_set.fish b/private_dot_config/private_fish/functions/__kitty_tab_set.fish
index 9fdbe62..08083c9 100644
--- a/private_dot_config/private_fish/functions/__kitty_tab_set.fish
+++ b/private_dot_config/private_fish/functions/__kitty_tab_set.fish
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ function __kitty_tab_set -d "Tint the current kitty tab for the given ssh/mosh h
         end
     end
     set -l bg (string split ' ' $colors)[1]
-    set -l fg (string split ' ' $colors)[2]
 
-    # Active tab: full host-color background, readable fg.
+    # Active tab: full host-color background, and NONE for the foreground so it
+    # falls back to the same one every other active tab uses.
     # Inactive tab: keep theme's dark background (NONE), host color as text only.
-    kitten @ set-tab-color "active_bg=$bg" "active_fg=$fg" \
+    kitten @ set-tab-color "active_bg=$bg" active_fg=NONE \
         "inactive_bg=NONE" "inactive_fg=$bg" 2>/dev/null
     kitten @ set-tab-title "$host" 2>/dev/null
 end