diff --git a/test/themes/powerline.base.bats b/test/themes/powerline.base.bats
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a64540176e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/themes/powerline.base.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# shellcheck shell=bats
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034 # Variables consumed by externally-loaded powerline functions.
+
+load "${MAIN_BASH_IT_DIR?}/test/test_helper.bash"
+
+function local_setup_file() {
+	setup_libs "colors"
+	load "${BASH_IT?}/themes/powerline/powerline.base.bash"
+}
+
+function local_setup() {
+	LEFT_PROMPT=""
+	SEGMENTS_AT_LEFT=0
+	LAST_SEGMENT_COLOR=""
+	unset POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR
+}
+
+@test "powerline base: __powerline_left_segment omits fg color code when POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR is unset" {
+	__powerline_left_segment "hello|240"
+	run printf '%s' "${LEFT_PROMPT}"
+	refute_output --partial "38;5;"
+	assert_output --partial "48;5;240"
+}
+
+@test "powerline base: __powerline_left_segment applies POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR when set" {
+	POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR=15
+	__powerline_left_segment "hello|240"
+	run printf '%s' "${LEFT_PROMPT}"
+	assert_output --partial "38;5;15"
+	assert_output --partial "48;5;240"
+}
+
+@test "powerline base: __powerline_left_segment fg color changes take effect on each segment" {
+	POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR=7
+	__powerline_left_segment "first|32"
+	__powerline_left_segment "second|240"
+	run printf '%s' "${LEFT_PROMPT}"
+	assert_output --partial "38;5;7"
+}
diff --git a/themes/powerline-plain/powerline-plain.base.bash b/themes/powerline-plain/powerline-plain.base.bash
index 08b81b5fc6..a589ad9df6 100644
--- a/themes/powerline-plain/powerline-plain.base.bash
+++ b/themes/powerline-plain/powerline-plain.base.bash
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function __powerline_left_segment {
 		fi
 	fi
 
-	LEFT_PROMPT+="$(set_color - "${params[1]}")${pad_before_segment}${params[0]}${normal?}"
+	LEFT_PROMPT+="$(set_color "${POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR:--}" "${params[1]}")${pad_before_segment}${params[0]}${normal?}"
 	LAST_SEGMENT_COLOR=${params[1]}
 	((SEGMENTS_AT_LEFT += 1))
 }
diff --git a/themes/powerline/powerline.base.bash b/themes/powerline/powerline.base.bash
index 85ba0dce93..a25801f452 100644
--- a/themes/powerline/powerline.base.bash
+++ b/themes/powerline/powerline.base.bash
@@ -268,8 +268,8 @@ function __powerline_left_segment() {
 		fi
 	fi
 
-	#change here to cahnge fg color
-	LEFT_PROMPT+="$(set_color - "${params[1]:-}")${pad_before_segment}${params[0]}${normal?}"
+	#change here to change fg color
+	LEFT_PROMPT+="$(set_color "${POWERLINE_PROMPT_FOREGROUND_COLOR:--}" "${params[1]:-}")${pad_before_segment}${params[0]}${normal?}"
 	#seperator char color == current bg
 	LAST_SEGMENT_COLOR="${params[1]:-}"
 	((SEGMENTS_AT_LEFT += 1))