diff --git a/static/js/broadcast.js b/static/js/broadcast.js
index c2ab308e..32424731 100644
--- a/static/js/broadcast.js
+++ b/static/js/broadcast.js
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ function loadBroadcastJS()
     for (var author in newAuthorData)
     {
       var data = newAuthorData[author];
-      var bgcolor = data.colorId;
+      var bgcolor = typeof data.colorId == "number" ? clientVars.colorPalette[data.colorId] : data.colorId;
       if (bgcolor && dynamicCSS)
       {
         dynamicCSS.selectorStyle('.' + linestylefilter.getAuthorClassName(author)).backgroundColor = bgcolor;
diff --git a/static/js/collab_client.js b/static/js/collab_client.js
index dd744be4..c5635aa5 100644
--- a/static/js/collab_client.js
+++ b/static/js/collab_client.js
@@ -407,6 +407,7 @@ function getCollabClient(ace2editor, serverVars, initialUserInfo, options)
     {
       var userInfo = msg.userInfo;
       var id = userInfo.userId;
+      
       if (userSet[id])
       {
         userSet[id] = userInfo;
@@ -471,6 +472,11 @@ function getCollabClient(ace2editor, serverVars, initialUserInfo, options)
 
   function tellAceAuthorInfo(userId, colorId, inactive)
   {
+    if(typeof colorId == "number")
+    {
+      colorId = clientVars.colorPalette[colorId];
+    }
+    
     var cssColor = colorId;
     if (inactive)
     {
diff --git a/static/js/pad2.js b/static/js/pad2.js
index b568973d..b71e2a3c 100644
--- a/static/js/pad2.js
+++ b/static/js/pad2.js
@@ -226,12 +226,6 @@ function handshake()
       clientVars = obj;
       clientVars.userAgent = "Anonymous";
       clientVars.collab_client_vars.clientAgent = "Anonymous";
-      
-      //translate old colorIDs to RGB strings
-      if(typeof clientVars.userColor == "number")
-      {
-        clientVars.userColor = clientVars.colorPalette[clientVars.userColor];
-      }
 
       //initalize the pad
       pad.init();
diff --git a/static/js/pad_userlist.js b/static/js/pad_userlist.js
index 1217affc..68f33419 100644
--- a/static/js/pad_userlist.js
+++ b/static/js/pad_userlist.js
@@ -499,6 +499,12 @@ var paduserlist = (function()
     },
     setMyUserInfo: function(info)
     {
+      //translate the colorId
+      if(typeof info.colorId == "number")
+      {
+        info.colorId = clientVars.colorPalette[info.colorId];
+      }
+      
       myUserInfo = $.extend(
       {}, info);
 
@@ -513,7 +519,7 @@ var paduserlist = (function()
       }
 
       var userData = {};
-      userData.color = info.colorId;
+      userData.color = typeof info.colorId == "number" ? clientVars.colorPalette[info.colorId] : info.colorId;
       userData.name = info.name;
       userData.status = '';
       userData.activity = '';