diff --git a/.config/shell/colors.sh b/.config/shell/colors.sh
index f8f7687..5fc0185 100644
--- a/.config/shell/colors.sh
+++ b/.config/shell/colors.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,15 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+
+# check if we're running inside a terminal that already has a color scheme configured for it
+if : ||
+  [ "${KITTY_PID:+true}" = true ] ||
+  [ "${ALACRITTY_WINDOW_ID:+true}" = true ]
+then
+  # we are running inside a terminal emulator that has a color config provided
+  # by these dotfiles, so we don't need to provide our own
+  return
+fi
+
 # base16-shell (https://github.com/chriskempson/base16-shell)
 # Base16 Shell template by Chris Kempson (http://chriskempson.com)
 COLOR_SCHEME="${COLOR_SCHEME:-onedark}"