diff --git a/modules/gcal/settings.go b/modules/gcal/settings.go
index ca8e1127..f702e4f5 100644
--- a/modules/gcal/settings.go
+++ b/modules/gcal/settings.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const defaultTitle = "Calendar"
 type colors struct {
 	day         string
 	description string `help:"The default color for calendar event descriptions." values:"Any X11 color name." optional:"true"`
+	eventTime   string `help:"The default color for calendar event times." values:"Any X11 color name." optional:"true"`
 	past        string `help:"The color for calendar events that have passed." values:"Any X11 color name." optional:"true"`
 	title       string `help:"The default colour for calendar event titles." values:"Any X11 color name." optional:"true"`
 
@@ -55,6 +56,14 @@ func NewSettingsFromYAML(name string, ymlConfig *config.Config, globalConfig *co
 
 	settings.colors.day = ymlConfig.UString("colors.day", "forestgreen")
 	settings.colors.description = ymlConfig.UString("colors.description", "white")
+	// settings.colors.eventTime is a new feature introduced via issue #638. Prior to this, the color of the event
+	// time was (unintentionally) customized via settings.colors.description. To maintain backwards compatibility
+	// for users who might be already using this to set the color of the event time, we try to determine the default
+	// from settings.colors.description. If it is not set, then the default value of "white" is used.  Finally, if a
+	// user sets a value for colors.eventTime, it overrides the defaults.
+	//
+	// PS: We should have a deprecation plan for supporting this backwards compatibility feature.
+	settings.colors.eventTime = ymlConfig.UString("colors.eventTime", settings.colors.description)
 	settings.colors.highlights = ymlConfig.UList("colors.highlights")
 	settings.colors.past = ymlConfig.UString("colors.past", "gray")
 	settings.colors.title = ymlConfig.UString("colors.title", "white")