diff --git a/src/gui_2.py b/src/gui_2.py
index 3fb6dee1..f2a5ec45 100644
--- a/src/gui_2.py
+++ b/src/gui_2.py
@@ -3702,10 +3702,10 @@ def render_comms_history_panel(app: App) -> None:
     imgui.same_line()
     imgui.text_colored(theme.get_color("status_error"), f"[{ticket_id}]")
    imgui.same_line()
-   d_col = DIR_COLORS.get(direction, C_VAL())
-   imgui.text_colored(d_col, direction); imgui.same_line()
-   k_col = KIND_COLORS.get(kind, C_VAL())
-   imgui.text_colored(k_col, kind);                  imgui.same_line()
+   d_col_fn = DIR_COLORS.get(direction, C_VAL)
+   imgui.text_colored(d_col_fn(), direction); imgui.same_line()
+   k_col_fn = KIND_COLORS.get(kind, C_VAL)
+   imgui.text_colored(k_col_fn(), kind);                  imgui.same_line()
    imgui.text_colored(C_LBL(), f"{provider}/{model}"); imgui.same_line()
    imgui.text_colored(C_SUB(), f"[{tier}]")