diff --git a/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/AuthMe.java b/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/AuthMe.java
index 24894299e..66e73d076 100644
--- a/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/AuthMe.java
+++ b/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/AuthMe.java
@@ -181,12 +181,21 @@ public void onEnable() {
         OnStartupTasks.sendMetrics(this, settings);
         if(settings.getProperty(SecuritySettings.SHOW_STARTUP_BANNER)) {
             String loadColorConfig = settings.getProperty(SecuritySettings.STARTUP_BANNER_COLOR);
-            logger.info("\n"+"§"+loadColorConfig+"    ___         __  __    __  ___   \n" +
-                "§"+loadColorConfig+"   /   | __  __/ /_/ /_  /  |/  /__ \n" +
-                "§"+loadColorConfig+"  / /| |/ / / / __/ __ \\/ /|_/ / _ \\\n" +
-                "§"+loadColorConfig+" / ___ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /  / /  __/\n" +
-                "§"+loadColorConfig+"/_/  |_\\__,_/\\__/_/ /_/_/  /_/\\___/ \n" +
-                "§"+loadColorConfig+"                                    ");
+            if (loadColorConfig.startsWith("§")) {
+                logger.info("\n" + loadColorConfig + "    ___         __  __    __  ___   \n" +
+                    loadColorConfig + "   /   | __  __/ /_/ /_  /  |/  /__ \n" +
+                    loadColorConfig + "  / /| |/ / / / __/ __ \\/ /|_/ / _ \\\n" +
+                    loadColorConfig + " / ___ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /  / /  __/\n" +
+                    loadColorConfig + "/_/  |_\\__,_/\\__/_/ /_/_/  /_/\\___/ \n" +
+                    loadColorConfig + "                                    ");
+            }else {
+                logger.info("\n"+"    ___         __  __    __  ___   \n" +
+                    "   /   | __  __/ /_/ /_  /  |/  /__ \n" +
+                    "  / /| |/ / / / __/ __ \\/ /|_/ / _ \\\n" +
+                    " / ___ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /  / /  __/\n" +
+                    "/_/  |_\\__,_/\\__/_/ /_/_/  /_/\\___/ \n" +
+                    "                                    ");
+            }
         }
         // Successful message
         //detect server brand with classloader
diff --git a/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/settings/properties/SecuritySettings.java b/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/settings/properties/SecuritySettings.java
index 6899231d0..0c5d6fa3f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/settings/properties/SecuritySettings.java
+++ b/src/main/java/fr/xephi/authme/settings/properties/SecuritySettings.java
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ public final class SecuritySettings implements SettingsHolder {
     public static final Property<Boolean> SHOW_STARTUP_BANNER =
         newProperty("Plugin.banners.showBanners", true);
 
-    @Comment("Should we show the Authme banner on startup?")
+    @Comment("Should we show the Authme banner on startup? (Default: §r)")
     public static final Property<String> STARTUP_BANNER_COLOR =
-        newProperty("Plugin.banners.bannerColor", "r");
+        newProperty("Plugin.banners.bannerColor", "§r");
 
 
     @Comment("Max allowed tries before a captcha is required")