diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 70f70c8..04fc04c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+- Preserve user defined color defaults
+
 ## V1.6.0
 
 - Use pager with Pry #96
diff --git a/lib/amazing_print/inspector.rb b/lib/amazing_print/inspector.rb
index 4cd9bad..a7b4e67 100644
--- a/lib/amazing_print/inspector.rb
+++ b/lib/amazing_print/inspector.rb
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def dotfile_readable?(dotfile)
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     def merge_custom_defaults!
       load_dotfile
-      merge_options!(AmazingPrint.defaults) if AmazingPrint.defaults.is_a?(Hash)
+      merge_options!(AmazingPrint.defaults.dup) if AmazingPrint.defaults.is_a?(Hash)
     rescue StandardError => e
       warn "Could not load '.aprc' from ENV['HOME']: #{e}"
     end
diff --git a/spec/misc_spec.rb b/spec/misc_spec.rb
index 3ba0755..af7a52c 100644
--- a/spec/misc_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/misc_spec.rb
@@ -139,6 +139,17 @@ def ==(other)
         }
       EOS
     end
+
+    it 'preserves user color defaults' do
+      COLORIZED_123 = "\e[0;34m123\e[0m"
+
+      AmazingPrint.force_colors = true
+      AmazingPrint.defaults = { color: { integer: :blueish } }
+      out = 123.ai
+      expect(out).to eq COLORIZED_123
+      out = 123.ai
+      expect(out).to eq COLORIZED_123
+    end
   end
 
   #------------------------------------------------------------------------------