diff --git a/src/scripting/scripted_widget_bindings.cpp b/src/scripting/scripted_widget_bindings.cpp
index 91c88d0f4..f08d514fd 100644
--- a/src/scripting/scripted_widget_bindings.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/scripted_widget_bindings.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "lualib.h"
 #include "shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.h"
 
+#include <string_view>
 #include <variant>
 
 namespace {
@@ -17,6 +18,13 @@ namespace {
     return w;
   }
 
+  std::string_view optionalStringArg(lua_State* L, int index) {
+    if (lua_gettop(L) < index || lua_isnil(L, index)) {
+      return {};
+    }
+    return luaL_checkstring(L, index);
+  }
+
   int luau_setText(lua_State* L) {
     const char* text = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
     if (auto* w = getWidget(L))
@@ -34,14 +42,14 @@ namespace {
   int luau_setColor(lua_State* L) {
     const char* role = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
     if (auto* w = getWidget(L))
-      w->luaSetColor(role);
+      w->luaSetColor(role, optionalStringArg(L, 2));
     return 0;
   }
 
   int luau_setGlyphColor(lua_State* L) {
     const char* role = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
     if (auto* w = getWidget(L))
-      w->luaSetGlyphColor(role);
+      w->luaSetGlyphColor(role, optionalStringArg(L, 2));
     return 0;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.cpp b/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.cpp
index 1d917d433..e4f9b65c4 100644
--- a/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.cpp
+++ b/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ namespace {
     ss << f.rdbuf();
     return ss.str();
   }
+
 } // namespace
 
 ScriptedWidget::ScriptedWidget(std::string scriptPath, const WidgetConfig* config, FileWatcher* fileWatcher)
@@ -142,18 +143,14 @@ void ScriptedWidget::doLayout(Renderer& renderer, float containerWidth, float co
   if (!m_flex)
     return;
 
-  auto textColor = m_textColorRole ? colorSpecFromRole(*m_textColorRole)
-                                   : widgetForegroundOr(colorSpecFromRole(ColorRole::OnSurface));
-  m_label->setColor(textColor);
+  m_label->setColor(resolveScriptColor(m_textColor));
   m_label->setVisible(!m_label->text().empty());
   if (m_label->visible()) {
     m_label->measure(renderer);
   }
 
   if (m_glyphVisible) {
-    auto glyphColor = m_glyphColorRole ? colorSpecFromRole(*m_glyphColorRole)
-                                       : widgetForegroundOr(colorSpecFromRole(ColorRole::OnSurface));
-    m_glyph->setColor(glyphColor);
+    m_glyph->setColor(resolveScriptColor(m_glyphColor));
     m_glyph->measure(renderer);
   }
 
@@ -189,18 +186,24 @@ void ScriptedWidget::luaSetGlyph(std::string_view name) {
   m_dirty |= changed;
 }
 
-void ScriptedWidget::luaSetColor(std::string_view role) {
-  auto parsed = colorRoleFromToken(role);
-  if (parsed != m_textColorRole) {
-    m_textColorRole = parsed;
+void ScriptedWidget::luaSetColor(std::string_view role, std::string_view mode) {
+  ScriptColorState next{.role = colorRoleFromToken(role), .mode = scriptColorModeFromToken(mode)};
+  if (!next.role.has_value()) {
+    next.mode = ScriptColorMode::Auto;
+  }
+  if (next != m_textColor) {
+    m_textColor = next;
     m_dirty = true;
   }
 }
 
-void ScriptedWidget::luaSetGlyphColor(std::string_view role) {
-  auto parsed = colorRoleFromToken(role);
-  if (parsed != m_glyphColorRole) {
-    m_glyphColorRole = parsed;
+void ScriptedWidget::luaSetGlyphColor(std::string_view role, std::string_view mode) {
+  ScriptColorState next{.role = colorRoleFromToken(role), .mode = scriptColorModeFromToken(mode)};
+  if (!next.role.has_value()) {
+    next.mode = ScriptColorMode::Auto;
+  }
+  if (next != m_glyphColor) {
+    m_glyphColor = next;
     m_dirty = true;
   }
 }
@@ -232,6 +235,24 @@ ScriptedWidget::IpcDispatchResult ScriptedWidget::dispatchIpcEvent(std::string_v
   return IpcDispatchResult::Handled;
 }
 
+ColorSpec ScriptedWidget::resolveScriptColor(const ScriptColorState& state) const noexcept {
+  if (m_widgetForeground.has_value()) {
+    return *m_widgetForeground;
+  }
+  const ColorSpec fallback = colorSpecFromRole(ColorRole::OnSurface);
+  if (!state.role.has_value()) {
+    return widgetForegroundOr(fallback);
+  }
+  if (state.mode == ScriptColorMode::Script || *state.role != ColorRole::OnSurface) {
+    return colorSpecFromRole(*state.role);
+  }
+  return widgetForegroundOr(fallback);
+}
+
+ScriptedWidget::ScriptColorMode ScriptedWidget::scriptColorModeFromToken(std::string_view token) noexcept {
+  return token == "script" ? ScriptColorMode::Script : ScriptColorMode::Auto;
+}
+
 void ScriptedWidget::startUpdateTimer() {
   m_updateTimer.startRepeating(std::chrono::milliseconds(m_updateIntervalMs), [this] {
     m_dirty = false;
@@ -258,8 +279,8 @@ void ScriptedWidget::teardownScriptWatch() {
 void ScriptedWidget::reloadScript() {
   m_updateTimer.stop();
   m_glyphVisible = false;
-  m_textColorRole = std::nullopt;
-  m_glyphColorRole = std::nullopt;
+  m_textColor = {};
+  m_glyphColor = {};
   m_updateIntervalMs = 250;
   if (m_glyph)
     m_glyph->setVisible(false);
diff --git a/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.h b/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.h
index 4d1924336..cd4318a45 100644
--- a/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.h
+++ b/src/shell/bar/widgets/scripted_widget.h
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ public:
 
   void luaSetText(std::string_view text);
   void luaSetGlyph(std::string_view name);
-  void luaSetColor(std::string_view role);
-  void luaSetGlyphColor(std::string_view role);
+  void luaSetColor(std::string_view role, std::string_view mode);
+  void luaSetGlyphColor(std::string_view role, std::string_view mode);
   void luaSetVisible(bool visible);
   void luaSetUpdateInterval(float ms);
   [[nodiscard]] IpcDispatchResult dispatchIpcEvent(std::string_view event, std::string_view payload);
@@ -46,9 +46,24 @@ public:
   [[nodiscard]] const std::unordered_map<std::string, WidgetSettingValue>& settings() const { return m_settings; }
 
 private:
+  enum class ScriptColorMode {
+    Auto,
+    Script,
+  };
+
+  struct ScriptColorState {
+    std::optional<ColorRole> role;
+    ScriptColorMode mode = ScriptColorMode::Auto;
+
+    bool operator==(const ScriptColorState&) const = default;
+  };
+
   void doLayout(Renderer& renderer, float containerWidth, float containerHeight) override;
   void doUpdate(Renderer& renderer) override;
 
+  [[nodiscard]] ColorSpec resolveScriptColor(const ScriptColorState& state) const noexcept;
+  [[nodiscard]] static ScriptColorMode scriptColorModeFromToken(std::string_view token) noexcept;
+
   void reloadScript();
   void setupScriptWatch();
   void teardownScriptWatch();
@@ -65,8 +80,8 @@ private:
   Flex* m_flex = nullptr;
   Glyph* m_glyph = nullptr;
   Label* m_label = nullptr;
-  std::optional<ColorRole> m_textColorRole;
-  std::optional<ColorRole> m_glyphColorRole;
+  ScriptColorState m_textColor;
+  ScriptColorState m_glyphColor;
   int m_updateIntervalMs = 250;
   bool m_dirty = false;
   bool m_isVertical = false;