diff --git a/src/terminal/kitty/color.zig b/src/terminal/kitty/color.zig
index e896ae091..6b797e733 100644
--- a/src/terminal/kitty/color.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/kitty/color.zig
@@ -18,27 +18,33 @@ pub const OSC = struct {
     terminator: Terminator = .st,
 };
 
-pub const Kind = enum(u9) {
-    // Make sure that this stays in sync with the highest numbered enum
-    // value.
-    pub const max: u9 = 263;
+pub const Special = enum {
+    foreground,
+    background,
+    selection_foreground,
+    selection_background,
+    cursor,
+    cursor_text,
+    visual_bell,
+    second_transparent_background,
+};
 
-    // These _must_ start at 256 since enum values 0-255 are reserved
-    // for the palette.
-    foreground = 256,
-    background = 257,
-    selection_foreground = 258,
-    selection_background = 259,
-    cursor = 260,
-    cursor_text = 261,
-    visual_bell = 262,
-    second_transparent_background = 263,
-    _,
+pub const Kind = union(enum) {
+    pub const max: usize = std.math.maxInt(u8) + @typeInfo(Special).Enum.fields.len;
 
-    /// Return the palette index that this kind is representing
-    /// or null if its a special color.
-    pub fn palette(self: Kind) ?u8 {
-        return std.math.cast(u8, @intFromEnum(self)) orelse null;
+    palette: u8,
+    special: Special,
+
+    pub fn parse(key: []const u8) ?Kind {
+        return kind: {
+            const s = std.meta.stringToEnum(Special, key) orelse {
+                const p = std.fmt.parseUnsigned(u8, key, 10) catch {
+                    break :kind null;
+                };
+                break :kind Kind{ .palette = p };
+            };
+            break :kind Kind{ .special = s };
+        };
     }
 
     pub fn format(
@@ -52,41 +58,24 @@ pub const Kind = enum(u9) {
 
         // Format as a number if its a palette color otherwise
         // format as a string.
-        if (self.palette()) |idx| {
-            try writer.print("{}", .{idx});
+        if (self == .palette) {
+            try writer.print("{d}", .{self.palette});
         } else {
-            try writer.print("{s}", .{@tagName(self)});
+            try writer.print("{s}", .{@tagName(self.special)});
         }
     }
 };
 
-test "OSC: kitty color protocol kind" {
-    const info = @typeInfo(Kind);
-
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(false, info.Enum.is_exhaustive);
-
-    var min: usize = std.math.maxInt(info.Enum.tag_type);
-    var max: usize = 0;
-
-    inline for (info.Enum.fields) |field| {
-        if (field.value > max) max = field.value;
-        if (field.value < min) min = field.value;
-    }
-
-    try std.testing.expect(min >= 256);
-    try std.testing.expect(max == Kind.max);
-}
-
 test "OSC: kitty color protocol kind string" {
     const testing = std.testing;
 
     var buf: [256]u8 = undefined;
     {
-        const actual = try std.fmt.bufPrint(&buf, "{}", .{Kind.foreground});
+        const actual = try std.fmt.bufPrint(&buf, "{}", .{Kind{ .special = .foreground }});
         try testing.expectEqualStrings("foreground", actual);
     }
     {
-        const actual = try std.fmt.bufPrint(&buf, "{}", .{@as(Kind, @enumFromInt(42))});
+        const actual = try std.fmt.bufPrint(&buf, "{}", .{Kind{ .palette = 42 }});
         try testing.expectEqualStrings("42", actual);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/terminal/osc.zig b/src/terminal/osc.zig
index 16f9ad7a0..2d7cd3c6e 100644
--- a/src/terminal/osc.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/osc.zig
@@ -1006,19 +1006,10 @@ pub const Parser = struct {
             return;
         }
 
-        // For our key, we first try to parse it as a special key. If that
-        // doesn't work then we try to parse it as a number for a palette.
-        const key: kitty.color.Kind = std.meta.stringToEnum(
-            kitty.color.Kind,
-            self.temp_state.key,
-        ) orelse @enumFromInt(std.fmt.parseUnsigned(
-            u8,
-            self.temp_state.key,
-            10,
-        ) catch {
+        const key = kitty.color.Kind.parse(self.temp_state.key) orelse {
             log.warn("unknown key in kitty color protocol: {s}", .{self.temp_state.key});
             return;
-        });
+        };
 
         const value = value: {
             if (self.buf_start == self.buf_idx) break :value "";
@@ -1633,6 +1624,7 @@ test "OSC: hyperlink end" {
 
 test "OSC: kitty color protocol" {
     const testing = std.testing;
+    const Kind = kitty.color.Kind;
 
     var p: Parser = .{ .alloc = testing.allocator };
     defer p.deinit();
@@ -1646,12 +1638,12 @@ test "OSC: kitty color protocol" {
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[0];
         try testing.expect(item == .query);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.foreground, item.query);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .foreground }, item.query);
     }
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[1];
         try testing.expect(item == .set);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.background, item.set.key);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .background }, item.set.key);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xf0), item.set.color.r);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xf8), item.set.color.g);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xff), item.set.color.b);
@@ -1659,7 +1651,7 @@ test "OSC: kitty color protocol" {
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[2];
         try testing.expect(item == .set);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.cursor, item.set.key);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .cursor }, item.set.key);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xf0), item.set.color.r);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xf8), item.set.color.g);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xff), item.set.color.b);
@@ -1667,22 +1659,22 @@ test "OSC: kitty color protocol" {
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[3];
         try testing.expect(item == .reset);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.cursor_text, item.reset);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .cursor_text }, item.reset);
     }
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[4];
         try testing.expect(item == .reset);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.visual_bell, item.reset);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .visual_bell }, item.reset);
     }
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[5];
         try testing.expect(item == .query);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.selection_background, item.query);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .selection_background }, item.query);
     }
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[6];
         try testing.expect(item == .set);
-        try testing.expectEqual(kitty.color.Kind.selection_background, item.set.key);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .special = .selection_background }, item.set.key);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xaa), item.set.color.r);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xbb), item.set.color.g);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xcc), item.set.color.b);
@@ -1690,12 +1682,12 @@ test "OSC: kitty color protocol" {
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[7];
         try testing.expect(item == .query);
-        try testing.expectEqual(@as(kitty.color.Kind, @enumFromInt(2)), item.query);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .palette = 2 }, item.query);
     }
     {
         const item = cmd.kitty_color_protocol.list.items[8];
         try testing.expect(item == .set);
-        try testing.expectEqual(@as(kitty.color.Kind, @enumFromInt(3)), item.set.key);
+        try testing.expectEqual(Kind{ .palette = 3 }, item.set.key);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xff), item.set.color.r);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xff), item.set.color.g);
         try testing.expectEqual(@as(u8, 0xff), item.set.color.b);
diff --git a/src/termio/stream_handler.zig b/src/termio/stream_handler.zig
index 5aa3dfd75..c2c12ffa8 100644
--- a/src/termio/stream_handler.zig
+++ b/src/termio/stream_handler.zig
@@ -1319,17 +1319,18 @@ pub const StreamHandler = struct {
             switch (item) {
                 .query => |key| {
                     const color: terminal.color.RGB = switch (key) {
-                        .foreground => self.foreground_color,
-                        .background => self.background_color,
-                        .cursor => self.cursor_color,
-                        else => if (key.palette()) |idx|
-                            self.terminal.color_palette.colors[idx]
-                        else {
-                            log.warn("ignoring unsupported kitty color protocol key: {}", .{key});
-                            continue;
+                        .palette => |palette| self.terminal.color_palette.colors[palette],
+                        .special => |special| switch (special) {
+                            .foreground => self.foreground_color,
+                            .background => self.background_color,
+                            .cursor => self.cursor_color,
+                            else => {
+                                log.warn("ignoring unsupported kitty color protocol key: {}", .{key});
+                                continue;
+                            },
                         },
                     } orelse {
-                        log.warn("no color configured for: {s}", .{@tagName(key)});
+                        log.warn("no color configured for {}", .{key});
                         continue;
                     };
 
@@ -1339,85 +1340,83 @@ pub const StreamHandler = struct {
                     );
                 },
                 .set => |v| switch (v.key) {
-                    .foreground => {
-                        self.foreground_color = v.color;
-
-                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
-                        // explains why we may have to do this.
-                        self.rendererMessageWriter(.{
-                            .foreground_color = v.color,
-                        });
-                    },
-                    .background => {
-                        self.background_color = v.color;
-
-                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
-                        // explains why we may have to do this.
-                        self.rendererMessageWriter(.{
-                            .background_color = v.color,
-                        });
-                    },
-                    .cursor => {
-                        self.cursor_color = v.color;
-
-                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
-                        // explains why we may have to do this.
-                        self.rendererMessageWriter(.{
-                            .cursor_color = v.color,
-                        });
-                    },
-
-                    else => if (v.key.palette()) |i| {
+                    .palette => |palette| {
                         self.terminal.flags.dirty.palette = true;
-                        self.terminal.color_palette.colors[i] = v.color;
-                        self.terminal.color_palette.mask.unset(i);
-                    } else {
-                        log.warn(
-                            "ignoring unsupported kitty color protocol key: {}",
-                            .{v.key},
-                        );
-                        continue;
+                        self.terminal.color_palette.colors[palette] = v.color;
+                        self.terminal.color_palette.mask.unset(palette);
+                    },
+                    .special => |special| {
+                        const msg: renderer.Message = switch (special) {
+                            .foreground => msg: {
+                                self.foreground_color = v.color;
+                                break :msg .{
+                                    .foreground_color = v.color,
+                                };
+                            },
+                            .background => msg: {
+                                self.background_color = v.color;
+                                break :msg .{
+                                    .background_color = v.color,
+                                };
+                            },
+                            .cursor => msg: {
+                                self.cursor_color = v.color;
+                                break :msg .{
+                                    .cursor_color = v.color,
+                                };
+                            },
+                            else => {
+                                log.warn(
+                                    "ignoring unsupported kitty color protocol key: {}",
+                                    .{v.key},
+                                );
+                                continue;
+                            },
+                        };
+
+                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
+                        // explains why we may have to do this.
+                        self.rendererMessageWriter(msg);
                     },
                 },
                 .reset => |key| switch (key) {
-                    .foreground => {
-                        self.foreground_color = self.default_foreground_color;
-
-                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
-                        // explains why we may have to do this.
-                        self.rendererMessageWriter(.{
-                            .foreground_color = self.default_foreground_color,
-                        });
-                    },
-                    .background => {
-                        self.background_color = self.default_background_color;
-
-                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
-                        // explains why we may have to do this.
-                        self.rendererMessageWriter(.{
-                            .background_color = self.default_background_color,
-                        });
-                    },
-                    .cursor => {
-                        self.cursor_color = self.default_cursor_color;
-
-                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
-                        // explains why we may have to do this.
-                        self.rendererMessageWriter(.{
-                            .cursor_color = self.default_cursor_color,
-                        });
-                    },
-
-                    else => if (key.palette()) |i| {
+                    .palette => |palette| {
                         self.terminal.flags.dirty.palette = true;
-                        self.terminal.color_palette.colors[i] = self.terminal.default_palette[i];
-                        self.terminal.color_palette.mask.unset(i);
-                    } else {
-                        log.warn(
-                            "ignoring unsupported kitty color protocol key: {}",
-                            .{key},
-                        );
-                        continue;
+                        self.terminal.color_palette.colors[palette] = self.terminal.default_palette[palette];
+                        self.terminal.color_palette.mask.unset(palette);
+                    },
+                    .special => |special| {
+                        const msg: renderer.Message = switch (special) {
+                            .foreground => msg: {
+                                self.foreground_color = self.default_foreground_color;
+                                break :msg .{
+                                    .foreground_color = self.default_foreground_color,
+                                };
+                            },
+                            .background => msg: {
+                                self.background_color = self.default_background_color;
+                                break :msg .{
+                                    .background_color = self.default_background_color,
+                                };
+                            },
+                            .cursor => msg: {
+                                self.cursor_color = self.default_cursor_color;
+                                break :msg .{
+                                    .cursor_color = self.default_cursor_color,
+                                };
+                            },
+                            else => {
+                                log.warn(
+                                    "ignoring unsupported kitty color protocol key: {}",
+                                    .{key},
+                                );
+                                continue;
+                            },
+                        };
+
+                        // See messageWriter which has similar logic and
+                        // explains why we may have to do this.
+                        self.rendererMessageWriter(msg);
                     },
                 },
             }