diff --git a/src/mame/video/galaxia.c b/src/mame/video/galaxia.c
index f08ebeb0ed6..a3217d3088f 100644
--- a/src/mame/video/galaxia.c
+++ b/src/mame/video/galaxia.c
@@ -60,35 +60,51 @@ PALETTE_INIT( astrowar )
 	palette_set_color_rgb(machine, BULLET_PEN, pal1bit(1), pal1bit(1), pal1bit(0));
 }
 
-static TILE_GET_INFO( get_bg_tile_info )
+static TILE_GET_INFO( get_galaxia_bg_tile_info )
+{
+	galaxia_state *state = machine.driver_data<galaxia_state>();
+	UINT8 code = state->m_video_ram[tile_index] & 0x7f; // d7 unused
+	UINT8 color = state->m_color_ram[tile_index] & 3; // highest bits unused
+
+	SET_TILE_INFO(0, code, color, 0);
+}
+
+static TILE_GET_INFO( get_astrowar_bg_tile_info )
 {
 	galaxia_state *state = machine.driver_data<galaxia_state>();
 	UINT8 code = state->m_video_ram[tile_index];
-	UINT8 color = state->m_color_ram[tile_index]; // highest bits unused
+	UINT8 color = state->m_color_ram[tile_index] & 7; // highest bits unused
 
 	SET_TILE_INFO(0, code, color, 0);
 }
 
+static void init_common( running_machine &machine )
+{
+	assert((STAR_PEN & 7) == 0);
+	cvs_init_stars(machine);
+}
+
 VIDEO_START( galaxia )
 {
 	galaxia_state *state = machine.driver_data<galaxia_state>();
+	init_common(machine);
 	
-	assert((STAR_PEN & 7) == 0);
-	
-	state->m_bg_tilemap = tilemap_create(machine, get_bg_tile_info, tilemap_scan_rows, 8, 8, 32, 32);
+	state->m_bg_tilemap = tilemap_create(machine, get_galaxia_bg_tile_info, tilemap_scan_rows, 8, 8, 32, 32);
 	state->m_bg_tilemap->set_transparent_pen(0);
 	state->m_bg_tilemap->set_scroll_cols(8);
 	
-	cvs_init_stars(machine);
 }
 
 VIDEO_START( astrowar )
 {
-	VIDEO_START_CALL(galaxia);
-
 	galaxia_state *state = machine.driver_data<galaxia_state>();
-	
+	init_common(machine);
+
+	state->m_bg_tilemap = tilemap_create(machine, get_astrowar_bg_tile_info, tilemap_scan_rows, 8, 8, 32, 32);
+	state->m_bg_tilemap->set_transparent_pen(0);
+	state->m_bg_tilemap->set_scroll_cols(8);
 	state->m_bg_tilemap->set_scrolldx(8, 8);
+
 	machine.primary_screen->register_screen_bitmap(state->m_temp_bitmap);
 }