diff --git a/core/core.py b/core/core.py
index ef9e1ad44..62c96a578 100644
--- a/core/core.py
+++ b/core/core.py
@@ -281,8 +281,11 @@ class GajimCore:
 						self.hub.sendPlugin('CONFIG', None, (ev[2][0], self.accounts))
 					else:
 						if self.cfgParser.tab.has_key(ev[2][1]):
-							self.hub.sendPlugin('CONFIG', None, (ev[2][0], \
-								self.cfgParser.__getattr__(ev[2][1])))
+							config = self.cfgParser.__getattr__(ev[2][1])
+							for item in ev[2][2].keys():
+								if not config.has_key(item):
+									config[item] = ev[2][2][item]
+							self.hub.sendPlugin('CONFIG', None, (ev[2][0], config))
 						else:
 							self.cfgParser.tab[ev[2][1]] = ev[2][2]
 							self.cfgParser.writeCfgFile()
diff --git a/plugins/gtkgui/config.py b/plugins/gtkgui/config.py
index fb2671a1a..7b046d6a5 100644
--- a/plugins/gtkgui/config.py
+++ b/plugins/gtkgui/config.py
@@ -271,24 +271,18 @@ class preference_Window:
 
 		#Color for incomming messages
 		colSt = self.plugin.config['inmsgcolor']
-		if not colSt:
-			colSt = '#ff0000'
 		cmapIn = self.da_in.get_colormap()
 		self.colorIn = cmapIn.alloc_color(colSt)
 		self.da_in.window.set_background(self.colorIn)
 		
 		#Color for outgoing messages
 		colSt = self.plugin.config['outmsgcolor']
-		if not colSt:
-			colSt = '#0000ff'
 		cmapOut = self.da_out.get_colormap()
 		self.colorOut = cmapOut.alloc_color(colSt)
 		self.da_out.window.set_background(self.colorOut)
 		
 		#Color for status messages
 		colSt = self.plugin.config['statusmsgcolor']
-		if not colSt:
-			colSt = '#00ff00'
 		cmapStatus = self.da_status.get_colormap()
 		self.colorStatus = cmapStatus.alloc_color(colSt)
 		self.da_status.window.set_background(self.colorStatus)
@@ -306,39 +300,27 @@ class preference_Window:
 			self.combo_iconstyle.entry.set_text(self.plugin.config['iconstyle'])
 		
 		#Autopopup
-		st = 1
-		if self.plugin.config.has_key('autopopup'):
-			st = self.plugin.config['autopopup']
+		st = self.plugin.config['autopopup']
 		self.chk_autopp.set_active(st)
 
 		#Autopopupaway
-		st = 1
-		if self.plugin.config.has_key('autopopupaway'):
-			st = self.plugin.config['autopopupaway']
+		st = self.plugin.config['autopopupaway']
 		self.chk_autoppaway.set_active(st)
 
 		#Autoaway
-		st = 1
-		if self.plugin.config.has_key('autoaway'):
-			st = self.plugin.config['autoaway']
+		st = self.plugin.config['autoaway']
 		self.chk_autoaway.set_active(st)
 
 		#Autoawaytime
-		st = 10
-		if self.plugin.config.has_key('autoawaytime'):
-			st = self.plugin.config['autoawaytime']
+		st = self.plugin.config['autoawaytime']
 		self.spin_autoawaytime.set_value(st)
 
 		#Autoxa
-		st = 1
-		if self.plugin.config.has_key('autoxa'):
-			st = self.plugin.config['autoxa']
+		st = self.plugin.config['autoxa']
 		self.chk_autoxa.set_active(st)
 
 		#Autoxatime
-		st = 20
-		if self.plugin.config.has_key('autoxatime'):
-			st = self.plugin.config['autoxatime']
+		st = self.plugin.config['autoxatime']
 		self.spin_autoxatime.set_value(st)
 
 		self.xml.signal_connect('gtk_widget_destroy', self.delete_event)
diff --git a/plugins/gtkgui/gtkgui.py b/plugins/gtkgui/gtkgui.py
index 81e89b805..9e1930ed4 100644
--- a/plugins/gtkgui/gtkgui.py
+++ b/plugins/gtkgui/gtkgui.py
@@ -170,18 +170,12 @@ class message_Window:
 			self.on_msg_key_press_event)
 		self.tagIn = buffer.create_tag("incoming")
 		color = self.plugin.config['inmsgcolor']
-		if not color:
-			color = 'red'
 		self.tagIn.set_property("foreground", color)
 		self.tagOut = buffer.create_tag("outgoing")
 		color = self.plugin.config['outmsgcolor']
-		if not color:
-			color = 'blue'
 		self.tagOut.set_property("foreground", color)
 		self.tagStatus = buffer.create_tag("status")
 		color = self.plugin.config['statusmsgcolor']
-		if not color:
-			color = 'green'
 		self.tagStatus.set_property("foreground", color)
 		#print queued messages
 		if plugin.queues[account].has_key(user.jid):
@@ -1669,9 +1663,9 @@ class plugin:
 		self.send('ASK_CONFIG', None, ('GtkGui', 'GtkGui', {'autopopup':1,\
 			'autopopupaway':1,\
 			'showoffline':0,\
-			'autoaway':0,\
+			'autoaway':1,\
 			'autoawaytime':10,\
-			'autoxa':0,\
+			'autoxa':1,\
 			'autoxatime':20,\
 			'iconstyle':'sun',\
 			'inmsgcolor':'#ff0000',\