diff --git a/autoload/airline/builder.vim b/autoload/airline/builder.vim
index 52c3f5ac..5f4e080c 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/builder.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/builder.vim
@@ -19,35 +19,47 @@ function! s:prototype.add_raw(text)
   call add(self._sections, ['', a:text])
 endfunction
 
+function! s:get_prev_group(sections, i)
+  let x = a:i - 1
+  while x >= 0
+    let group = a:sections[x][0]
+    if group != '' && group != '|'
+      return group
+    endif
+    let x = x - 1
+  endwhile
+  return ''
+endfunction
+
 function! s:prototype.build()
   let side = 1
-  let prev_group = ''
   let line = ''
   let i = 0
   let length = len(self._sections)
+  let split = 0
 
   while i < length
     let section = self._sections[i]
     let group = section[0]
     let contents = section[1]
+    let prev_group = s:get_prev_group(self._sections, i)
 
     if group == ''
       let line .= contents
     elseif group == '|'
       let side = 0
       let line .= contents
-      let prev_group = ''
+      let split = 1
     else
-      if i == 0
+      if prev_group == ''
         let line .= '%#'.group.'#'
-      endif
-
-      if prev_group != '' && group != ''
+      elseif split
+        let line .= s:get_transitioned_seperator(self, prev_group, group, side)
+        let split = 0
+      else
         let line .= s:get_seperator(self, prev_group, group, side)
       endif
-
       let line .= s:get_accented_line(self, group, contents)
-      let prev_group = group
     endif
 
     let i = i + 1
@@ -72,19 +84,23 @@ function! s:should_change_group(group1, group2)
   endif
 endfunction
 
-function! s:get_seperator(self, prev_group, group, side)
+function! s:get_transitioned_seperator(self, prev_group, group, side)
   let line = ''
-  if s:should_change_group(a:prev_group, a:group)
-    call airline#highlighter#add_separator(a:prev_group, a:group, a:side)
-    let line .= '%#'.a:prev_group.'_to_'.a:group.'#'
-    let line .= a:side ? a:self._context.left_sep : a:self._context.right_sep
-    let line .= '%#'.a:group.'#'
-  else
-    let line .= a:side ? a:self._context.left_alt_sep : a:self._context.right_alt_sep
-  endif
+  call airline#highlighter#add_separator(a:prev_group, a:group, a:side)
+  let line .= '%#'.a:prev_group.'_to_'.a:group.'#'
+  let line .= a:side ? a:self._context.left_sep : a:self._context.right_sep
+  let line .= '%#'.a:group.'#'
   return line
 endfunction
 
+function! s:get_seperator(self, prev_group, group, side)
+  if s:should_change_group(a:prev_group, a:group)
+    return s:get_transitioned_seperator(a:self, a:prev_group, a:group, a:side)
+  else
+    return a:side ? a:self._context.left_alt_sep : a:self._context.right_alt_sep
+  endif
+endfunction
+
 function! s:get_accented_line(self, group, contents)
   if a:self._context.active
     let contents = []
diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/ctrlp.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/ctrlp.vim
index 11a89220..b195755e 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/ctrlp.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/ctrlp.vim
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ function! airline#extensions#ctrlp#ctrlp_airline(...)
   endif
   call b.add_section_spaced('CtrlPdark', a:7)
   call b.split()
-  call b.add_raw('%#CtrlPdark#'.a:1.(g:airline_symbols.space))
+  call b.add_section_spaced('CtrlPdark', a:1)
   call b.add_section_spaced('CtrlPdark', a:2)
   call b.add_section_spaced('CtrlPlight', '%{getcwd()}')
   return b.build()
diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/default.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/default.vim
index 53b000d4..faa1fb68 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/default.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/default.vim
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ function! airline#extensions#default#apply(builder, context)
   let active = a:context.active
 
   if airline#util#getwinvar(winnr, 'airline_render_left', active || (!active && !g:airline_inactive_collapse))
-    call <sid>build_sections(a:builder, a:context, s:layout[0])
+    call s:build_sections(a:builder, a:context, s:layout[0])
   else
-    let text = <sid>get_section(winnr, 'c')
+    let text = s:get_section(winnr, 'c')
     if empty(text)
       let text = ' %f%m '
     endif
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function! airline#extensions#default#apply(builder, context)
   call a:builder.split(s:get_section(winnr, 'gutter', '', ''))
 
   if airline#util#getwinvar(winnr, 'airline_render_right', 1)
-    call <sid>build_sections(a:builder, a:context, s:layout[1])
+    call s:build_sections(a:builder, a:context, s:layout[1])
   endif
 
   return 1
diff --git a/t/builder.vim b/t/builder.vim
index d82367ec..57feb148 100644
--- a/t/builder.vim
+++ b/t/builder.vim
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ describe 'active builder'
     Expect stl !~ '%#__restore__#'
     Expect stl =~ '%#Normal#'
   end
+
+  it 'should blend colors from the left through the split to the right'
+    call s:builder.add_section('Normal', 'hello')
+    call s:builder.split()
+    call s:builder.add_section('Search', 'world')
+    let stl = s:builder.build()
+    Expect stl =~ 'Normal_to_Search'
+  end
 end
 
 describe 'inactive builder'