diff --git a/rtl/apple1.v b/rtl/apple1.v
index 00111e1..d321cf6 100644
--- a/rtl/apple1.v
+++ b/rtl/apple1.v
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ module apple1 #(
     output vga_red,             // red VGA signal
     output vga_grn,             // green VGA signal
     output vga_blu,             // blue VGA signal
-    input clr_screen,           // clear screen button
+    input [1:0] vga_mode,       // 2-bit font mode for character rendering
+    input vga_cls,              // clear screen button
 
     // Debugging ports
     output [15:0] pc_monitor    // spy for program counter / debugging
@@ -214,21 +215,9 @@ module apple1 #(
         .w_en(we & vga_cs),
         .din(dbo),
         .mode(vga_mode),
-        .clr_screen(clr_screen)
+        .clr_screen(vga_cls)
     );
 
-    // FIXME: REMOVE THIS
-    wire mode_cs = (ab[15:12]  == 4'b1100); // 0xC000
-
-    always @(posedge clk25 or posedge rst)
-    begin
-        if (rst)
-            vga_mode <= 2'b0;
-        else
-            if (mode_cs & we & cpu_clken)
-                vga_mode <= dbo[1:0];
-    end
-
     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     // CPU Data In MUX
 
@@ -238,6 +227,5 @@ module apple1 #(
                  basic_cs ? basic_dout :
                  uart_cs  ? uart_dout :
                  ps2kb_cs ? ps2_dout :
-                 mode_cs ? vga_mode :
                  8'hFF;
 endmodule
diff --git a/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v b/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v
index b6719da..93ae9a8 100644
--- a/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v
+++ b/rtl/boards/ice40hx8k-b-evn/apple1_hx8k.v
@@ -150,7 +150,8 @@ module apple1_top #(
         .vga_red(vga_red),
         .vga_grn(vga_grn),
         .vga_blu(vga_blu),
-        .clr_screen(~clr_screen_n),
+        .vga_mode(2'b0),
+        .vga_cls(~clr_screen_n),
         .pc_monitor(pc_monitor)
     );
 
diff --git a/rtl/vga/vga.v b/rtl/vga/vga.v
index dd1a087..3772fb3 100644
--- a/rtl/vga/vga.v
+++ b/rtl/vga/vga.v
@@ -205,6 +205,10 @@ module vga #(
     assign vga_red = font_out;
     assign vga_grn = font_out;
     assign vga_blu = font_out;
+
+    // make background solid blue
+    //assign vga_blu = (h_active & v_active) ? 1'b1 : font_out;
+
     assign vga_h_sync = (h_cnt < h_pulse) ? 0 : 1;
     assign vga_v_sync = (v_cnt < v_pulse) ? 0 : 1;