diff --git a/src/mess/drivers/special.c b/src/mess/drivers/special.c
index 69da67bcab9..505cddca336 100644
--- a/src/mess/drivers/special.c
+++ b/src/mess/drivers/special.c
@@ -414,7 +414,6 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( special, special_state )
 	MCFG_VIDEO_START_OVERRIDE(special_state,special)
 	MCFG_SCREEN_UPDATE_DRIVER(special_state, screen_update_special)
 	MCFG_PALETTE_LENGTH(2)
-	MCFG_PALETTE_INIT(black_and_white)
 
 	/* audio hardware */
 	MCFG_SPEAKER_STANDARD_MONO("mono")
diff --git a/src/mess/video/special.c b/src/mess/video/special.c
index f50a6271789..fa271074e9c 100644
--- a/src/mess/video/special.c
+++ b/src/mess/video/special.c
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 
 VIDEO_START_MEMBER(special_state,special)
 {
+	palette_set_color(machine(),0,RGB_BLACK); /* black */
+	palette_set_color(machine(),1,RGB_WHITE); /* white */
 }
 
 UINT32 special_state::screen_update_special(screen_device &screen, bitmap_ind16 &bitmap, const rectangle &cliprect)