diff --git a/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim b/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
index e4e83e84..7178e6b4 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
@@ -87,8 +87,18 @@ function! s:CheckDefined(colors)
   " Checks, whether the definition of the colors is valid and is not empty or NONE
   " e.g. if the colors would expand to this:
   " hi airline_c ctermfg=NONE ctermbg=NONE
-  " that means to clear that highlighting group, therefore, add a special term=NONE
-  " argument
+  " that means to clear that highlighting group, therefore, fallback to Normal
+  " highlighting group for the cterm values
+
+  " This only works, if the Normal highlighting group is actually defined, so
+  " return early, if it has been cleared
+  if !exists("g:airline#highlighter#normal_fg_hi")
+    let g:airline#highlighter#normal_fg_hi = synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID('Normal')), 'fg', 'cterm')
+  endif
+  if empty(g:airline#highlighter#normal_fg_hi)
+    return a:colors
+  endif
+
   for val in a:colors
     if !empty(val) && val !=# 'NONE'
       return a:colors
@@ -96,7 +106,7 @@ function! s:CheckDefined(colors)
   endfor
   " this adds the bold attribute to the term argument of the :hi command,
   " but at least this makes sure, the group will be defined
-  let fg = synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID('Normal')), 'fg', 'cterm')
+  let fg = g:airline#highlighter#normal_fg_hi
   let bg = synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID('Normal')), 'bg', 'cterm')
   return a:colors[0:1] + [fg, bg] + [a:colors[4]]
 endfunction
diff --git a/plugin/airline.vim b/plugin/airline.vim
index 53a21b6b..03dbe48f 100644
--- a/plugin/airline.vim
+++ b/plugin/airline.vim
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ endfunction
 
 function! s:on_colorscheme_changed()
   call s:init()
+  unlet! g:airline#highlighter#normal_fg_hi
   let g:airline_gui_mode = airline#init#gui_mode()
   if !s:theme_in_vimrc
     call airline#switch_matching_theme()