diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f1b88b8..a3d670a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ Refer to [https://st.suckless.org/](https://st.suckless.org/) for details on the
 
 ### Changelog:
 
+2026-01-08 - Added the xresources-xdefaults patch
+
 2025-10-28 - Added the selectionbg-alpha patch
 
 2025-02-20 - Added the drag-n-drop and open-selected-text patches
@@ -340,3 +342,6 @@ Refer to [https://st.suckless.org/](https://st.suckless.org/) for details on the
    - [xresources](https://st.suckless.org/patches/xresources/)
       - adds the ability to configure st via Xresources
       - during startup, st will read and apply the resources named in the resources[] array in config.h
+
+   - xresources-xdefaults
+      - allows .Xdefaults to be read as well in addition to the RESOURCE_MANAGER property on the root window
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/patch/xresources.c b/patch/xresources.c
index 5617b1a..a294795 100644
--- a/patch/xresources.c
+++ b/patch/xresources.c
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ resource_load(XrmDatabase db, char *name, enum resource_type rtype, void *dst)
 
 	switch (rtype) {
 	case STRING:
-		*sdst = ret.addr;
+		/* Note: this leaks memory */
+		*sdst = strdup(ret.addr);
 		break;
 	case INTEGER:
 		*idst = strtoul(ret.addr, NULL, 10);
@@ -34,6 +35,102 @@ resource_load(XrmDatabase db, char *name, enum resource_type rtype, void *dst)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+#if XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
+/* Returns an XrmDatabase that needs to be freed by the caller. */
+static XrmDatabase
+get_resources(Display *dpy)
+{
+	/*******************************************************************/
+	/*  Adapted from rxvt-unicode-9.31 rxvttoolkit.C get_resources()  */
+	/*******************************************************************/
+	char *homedir = getenv("HOME");
+	char fname[1024];
+
+	char *displayResource, *xe;
+	XrmDatabase rdb1;
+	XrmDatabase database = XrmGetStringDatabase("");
+
+	/* For ordering, see for example http://www.faqs.org/faqs/Xt-FAQ/ Subject: 20 */
+
+	/* 6. System wide per application default file. */
+
+	/* Add in $XAPPLRESDIR/St only; not bothering with XUSERFILESEARCHPATH */
+	if ((xe = getenv("XAPPLRESDIR")) || (xe = "/etc/X11/app-defaults"))
+	{
+		snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "%s/%s", xe, "St");
+
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(fname)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	}
+
+	/* 5. User's per application default file. None. */
+
+	/* 4. User's defaults file. */
+	if (homedir)
+	{
+		snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "%s/.Xdefaults", homedir);
+
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(fname)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	}
+
+	/* Get any Xserver Resources (xrdb). */
+	displayResource = XResourceManagerString(dpy);
+
+	if (displayResource)
+	{
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetStringDatabase(displayResource)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	}
+
+	/* Get screen specific resources. */
+	displayResource = XScreenResourceString(ScreenOfDisplay(dpy, DefaultScreen(dpy)));
+
+	if (displayResource)
+	{
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetStringDatabase(displayResource)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+
+		XFree(displayResource);
+	}
+
+	/* 3. User's per host defaults file. */
+	/* Add in XENVIRONMENT file */
+	if ((xe = getenv("XENVIRONMENT")) && (rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(xe)))
+		XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	else if (homedir)
+	{
+		struct utsname un;
+
+		if (!uname(&un))
+		{
+			snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "%s/.Xdefaults-%s", homedir, un.nodename);
+
+			if ((rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(fname)))
+				XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+		}
+	}
+
+	return database;
+}
+
+void
+config_init(Display *dpy)
+{
+	XrmDatabase db;
+	ResourcePref *p;
+
+	XrmInitialize();
+	db = get_resources(dpy);
+
+	for (p = resources; p < resources + LEN(resources); p++)
+		resource_load(db, p->name, p->type, p->dst);
+
+	XrmDestroyDatabase(db);
+}
+
+#else // !XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
+
 void
 config_init(Display *dpy)
 {
@@ -42,14 +139,21 @@ config_init(Display *dpy)
 	ResourcePref *p;
 
 	XrmInitialize();
+
 	resm = XResourceManagerString(dpy);
 	if (!resm)
 		return;
 
 	db = XrmGetStringDatabase(resm);
+	if (!db)
+		return;
+
 	for (p = resources; p < resources + LEN(resources); p++)
 		resource_load(db, p->name, p->type, p->dst);
+
+	XrmDestroyDatabase(db);
 }
+#endif // XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
 
 #if XRESOURCES_RELOAD_PATCH
 void
diff --git a/patch/xresources.h b/patch/xresources.h
index c184852..91d5093 100644
--- a/patch/xresources.h
+++ b/patch/xresources.h
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 #include <X11/Xresource.h>
+#if XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
+#include <sys/utsname.h>
+#endif // XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
 
 /* Xresources preferences */
 enum resource_type {
diff --git a/patches.def.h b/patches.def.h
index e961d95..d927446 100644
--- a/patches.def.h
+++ b/patches.def.h
@@ -542,3 +542,10 @@
  * Depends on the XRESOURCES_PATCH.
  */
 #define XRESOURCES_RELOAD_PATCH 0
+
+/* This patch adds the ability to configure st via Xdefaults, in addition to Xresources,
+ * like the rxvt-unicode terminal. At startup, st will read and apply the system and user's
+ * local Xdefault files, the XServer's Xresources, and the screen and per-host Xdefaults.
+ * This patch depends on XRESOURCES_PATCH and is compatible with XRESOURCES_RELOAD_PATCH.
+ */
+#define XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH 0
diff --git a/sixel.c b/sixel.c
index 208fc4c..0f6b710 100644
--- a/sixel.c
+++ b/sixel.c
@@ -100,9 +100,13 @@ set_default_color(sixel_image_t *image)
 		image->palette[n++] = SIXEL_RGB(i * 11, i * 11, i * 11);
 	}
 
+	/* sixels rarely use more than 256 colors and if they do, they use a custom
+	 * palette, so we don't need to initialize these colors */
+	/*
 	for (; n < DECSIXEL_PALETTE_MAX; n++) {
 		image->palette[n] = SIXEL_RGB(255, 255, 255);
 	}
+	*/
 
 	return (0);
 }
@@ -610,11 +614,12 @@ sixel_parser_parse(sixel_state_t *st, const unsigned char *p, size_t len)
 				st->param = 0;
 
 				if (st->nparams > 0) {
-					st->color_index = 1 + st->params[0];  /* offset 1(background color) added */
+					st->color_index = st->params[0];
 					if (st->color_index < 0)
 						st->color_index = 0;
 					else if (st->color_index >= DECSIXEL_PALETTE_MAX)
 						st->color_index = DECSIXEL_PALETTE_MAX - 1;
+					st->color_index++; /* offset by 1 (background) */
 				}
 
 				if (st->nparams > 4) {
diff --git a/sixel.h b/sixel.h
index 7d14f8a..496973c 100644
--- a/sixel.h
+++ b/sixel.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ typedef struct sixel_image_buffer {
 	sixel_color_no_t *data;
 	int width;
 	int height;
-	sixel_color_t palette[DECSIXEL_PALETTE_MAX];
+	sixel_color_t palette[DECSIXEL_PALETTE_MAX + 1];
 	sixel_color_no_t ncolors;
 	int palette_modified;
 	int use_private_register;
diff --git a/sixel_hls.c b/sixel_hls.c
index c88241c..c7b5a02 100644
--- a/sixel_hls.c
+++ b/sixel_hls.c
@@ -30,20 +30,18 @@
 // sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written
 // authorization.
 
-#define SIXEL_RGB(r, g, b) ((r) + ((g) << 8) + ((b) << 16) + (255 << 24))
+#define SIXEL_RGB(r, g, b) ((255 << 24) + ((r) << 16) + ((g) << 8) +  (b))
 
 int
 hls_to_rgb(int hue, int lum, int sat)
 {
-  double hs = (hue + 240) % 360;
-  double hv = hs / 360.0;
   double lv = lum / 100.0;
   double sv = sat / 100.0;
   double c, x, m, c2;
   double r1, g1, b1;
-  int r, g, b;
-  int hpi;
+  int r, g, b, hs;
 
+  hue = (hue + 240) % 360;
   if (sat == 0) {
     r = g = b = lum * 255 / 100;
     return SIXEL_RGB(r, g, b);
@@ -52,12 +50,14 @@ hls_to_rgb(int hue, int lum, int sat)
   if ((c2 = ((2.0 * lv) - 1.0)) < 0.0) {
     c2 = -c2;
   }
+  if ((hs = (hue % 120) - 60) < 0) {
+    hs = -hs;
+  }
   c = (1.0 - c2) * sv;
-  hpi = (int) (hv * 6.0);
-  x = (hpi & 1) ? c : 0.0;
+  x = ((60 - hs) / 60.0) * c;
   m = lv - 0.5 * c;
 
-  switch (hpi) {
+  switch (hue / 60) {
   case 0:
     r1 = c;
     g1 = x;
@@ -92,24 +92,24 @@ hls_to_rgb(int hue, int lum, int sat)
     return SIXEL_RGB(255, 255, 255);
   }
 
-  r = (int) ((r1 + m) * 100.0 + 0.5);
-  g = (int) ((g1 + m) * 100.0 + 0.5);
-  b = (int) ((b1 + m) * 100.0 + 0.5);
+  r = (int) ((r1 + m) * 255.0 + 0.5);
+  g = (int) ((g1 + m) * 255.0 + 0.5);
+  b = (int) ((b1 + m) * 255.0 + 0.5);
 
   if (r < 0) {
     r = 0;
-  } else if (r > 100) {
-    r = 100;
+  } else if (r > 255) {
+    r = 255;
   }
   if (g < 0) {
     g = 0;
-  } else if (g > 100) {
-    g = 100;
+  } else if (g > 255) {
+    g = 255;
   }
   if (b < 0) {
     b = 0;
-  } else if (b > 100) {
-    b = 100;
+  } else if (b > 255) {
+    b = 255;
   }
-  return SIXEL_RGB(r * 255 / 100, g * 255 / 100, b * 255 / 100);
+  return SIXEL_RGB(r, g, b);
 }