diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 47b9365..af938f2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ else
 endif
 
 debug: build
-	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --ex run --args builddir/zedcaster
+	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --ex run --args builddir/runtests
 
 debug_run: build
 	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --batch --ex run --ex bt --ex q --args builddir/zedcaster
diff --git a/palette.cpp b/palette.cpp
index f40bd2d..3f64142 100644
--- a/palette.cpp
+++ b/palette.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ namespace palette {
 
   static PaletteMgr COLOR;
 
+  bool initialized() {
+    return COLOR.initialized;
+  }
+
   void init(const string &json_file) {
     if(!COLOR.initialized) {
       COLOR.initialized = true;
@@ -41,18 +45,18 @@ namespace palette {
           }
         }
       }
-    }
 
-    for(auto [color_path, ref] : COLOR.pending_refs) {
-      dbc::check(COLOR.palettes.contains(ref),
-          fmt::format("In {} you have {} referring to {} but {} doesn't exist.",
-            COLOR.config, color_path, ref, ref));
-      dbc::check(!COLOR.palettes.contains(color_path),
-          fmt::format("Color {} with ref {} is duplicated.", color_path, ref));
+      for(auto [color_path, ref] : COLOR.pending_refs) {
+        dbc::check(COLOR.palettes.contains(ref),
+            fmt::format("In {} you have {} referring to {} but {} doesn't exist.",
+              COLOR.config, color_path, ref, ref));
+        dbc::check(!COLOR.palettes.contains(color_path),
+            fmt::format("Color {} with ref {} is duplicated.", color_path, ref));
 
-      auto color = COLOR.palettes.at(ref);
+        auto color = COLOR.palettes.at(ref);
 
-      COLOR.palettes.try_emplace(color_path, color);
+        COLOR.palettes.try_emplace(color_path, color);
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/palette.hpp b/palette.hpp
index ff70da7..9844924 100644
--- a/palette.hpp
+++ b/palette.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 namespace palette {
   using std::string;
 
+  bool initialized();
   void init(const std::string &config="palette");
 
   sf::Color get(const string &key);
diff --git a/tests/battle.cpp b/tests/battle.cpp
index b6572b8..49cd873 100644
--- a/tests/battle.cpp
+++ b/tests/battle.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "animation.hpp"
 #include "components.hpp"
 #include "ai.hpp"
+#include "palette.hpp"
 
 using namespace combat;
 using namespace boss;
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ TEST_CASE("boss/systems.cpp works", "[combat-battle]") {
   components::init();
   sfml::Backend backend;
   guecs::init(&backend);
+
   ai::reset();
   ai::init("ai");
   animation::init();
diff --git a/tests/palette.cpp b/tests/palette.cpp
index 988e565..9a28624 100644
--- a/tests/palette.cpp
+++ b/tests/palette.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ using namespace fmt;
 
 TEST_CASE("color palette test", "[color-palette]") {
   palette::init();
+  REQUIRE(palette::initialized() == true);
+  // confirm it's idempotent
+  palette::init();
+
   sf::Color expect{10, 10, 10, 255};
 
   auto gui_text = palette::get("gui/theme:dark_dark");