diff --git a/lib/tms_screen2.h b/lib/tms_screen2.h
index 62ddfec..e2361e3 100644
--- a/lib/tms_screen2.h
+++ b/lib/tms_screen2.h
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ void screen2_init_bitmap(byte color) {
       TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(i);      NOP;  // color
    }
 
+   // fill pattern table with 0 (clear screen)
+   tms_set_vram_write_addr(SCREEN2_PATTERN_TABLE);
+   for(word i=768*8;i!=0;i--) {
+      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0);
+      NOP;
+   }
+
    // fill color table with black on white
    tms_set_vram_write_addr(SCREEN2_COLOR_TABLE);
    for(word i=768*8;i!=0;i--) {
@@ -49,13 +56,6 @@ void screen2_init_bitmap(byte color) {
       TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(i & 0xFF); 
       NOP;
    }
-
-   // fill pattern table with 0 (clear screen)
-   tms_set_vram_write_addr(SCREEN2_PATTERN_TABLE);
-   for(word i=768*8;i!=0;i--) {
-      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0); 
-      NOP;
-   }
 }
 
 void screen2_putc(byte ch, byte x, byte y, byte col) {