diff --git a/src/emu/driver.c b/src/emu/driver.c
index fc352a5c890..2b81a50ae70 100644
--- a/src/emu/driver.c
+++ b/src/emu/driver.c
@@ -226,8 +226,17 @@ void driver_device::device_start()
 
 	// call the game-specific init
 	if (m_system->driver_init != NULL)
+	{
 		(*m_system->driver_init)(machine());
 
+		// update palettes to allow changes in driver_init
+		palette_device_iterator pal_deviter(*this);
+		for (palette_device *palette = pal_deviter.first(); palette != NULL; palette = pal_deviter.next())
+		{
+			palette->update();
+		}
+	}
+
 	// finish image devices init process
 	image_postdevice_init(machine());
 
diff --git a/src/emu/emupal.h b/src/emu/emupal.h
index 9778adc6518..f87b7d65e5d 100644
--- a/src/emu/emupal.h
+++ b/src/emu/emupal.h
@@ -388,6 +388,8 @@ public:
 	void palette_init_BBBBBGGGGGRRRRR(palette_device &palette);
 	void palette_init_RRRRRGGGGGGBBBBB(palette_device &palette);
 	
+	// helper to update palette when data changed
+	void update() { if (!m_init.isnull()) m_init(*this); }
 protected:
 	// device-level overrides
 	virtual void device_validity_check(validity_checker &valid) const;