diff --git a/bebop/browser/browser.py b/bebop/browser/browser.py
index 9cc7221..f087c90 100644
--- a/bebop/browser/browser.py
+++ b/bebop/browser/browser.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from bebop.bookmarks import (
     get_bookmarks_document,
     save_bookmark,
 )
-from bebop.colors import ColorPair, init_colors
+from bebop.colors import A_ITALIC, ColorPair, init_colors
 from bebop.config import RENDER_MODES
 from bebop.command_line import CommandLine
 from bebop.external import open_external_program
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class Browser:
 
     def set_status(self, text):
         """Set a regular message in the status bar."""
-        self.status_data = text, ColorPair.NORMAL, curses.A_ITALIC
+        self.status_data = text, ColorPair.NORMAL, A_ITALIC
         self.refresh_status_line()
 
     def reset_status(self):
diff --git a/bebop/colors.py b/bebop/colors.py
index 2fa7693..bfa139c 100644
--- a/bebop/colors.py
+++ b/bebop/colors.py
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ class ColorPair(IntEnum):
     LINK_PREVIEW = 10
 
 
+A_ITALIC = curses.A_ITALIC if hasattr(curses, "A_ITALIC") else curses.A_NORMAL
+
+
 def init_colors():
     curses.use_default_colors()
     curses.init_pair(ColorPair.NORMAL, curses.COLOR_WHITE, -1)
diff --git a/bebop/rendering.py b/bebop/rendering.py
index 873b696..81252cd 100644
--- a/bebop/rendering.py
+++ b/bebop/rendering.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import curses
 
-from bebop.colors import ColorPair
+from bebop.colors import A_ITALIC, ColorPair
 from bebop.metalines import LineType
 
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def render_line(metaline, window, max_width):
         attributes = (
             curses.color_pair(ColorPair.LINK_PREVIEW)
             | curses.A_DIM
-            | curses.A_ITALIC
+            | A_ITALIC
         )
         window.addstr(url_text, attributes)
 
@@ -70,6 +70,6 @@ def get_base_line_attributes(line_type) -> int:
     elif line_type == LineType.PREFORMATTED:
         return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.PREFORMATTED)
     elif line_type == LineType.BLOCKQUOTE:
-        return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.BLOCKQUOTE) | curses.A_ITALIC
+        return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.BLOCKQUOTE) | A_ITALIC
     else:  # includes LineType.PARAGRAPH
         return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.NORMAL)