diff --git a/core/core-ui.el b/core/core-ui.el
index 115ac947b..0cd1ef8a0 100644
--- a/core/core-ui.el
+++ b/core/core-ui.el
@@ -60,11 +60,16 @@
 
 ;; A subtle bell: flash the mode-line
 ;; TODO More flexible colors (only suits dark themes)
+(defvar doom--modeline-bg nil)
+
 (setq ring-bell-function
       (lambda ()
-        (let ((bg (face-attribute 'mode-line :background)))
-          (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :background "#54252c")
-          (run-with-timer 0.1 nil `(lambda () (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :background ,bg))))))
+        (unless doom--modeline-bg
+          (setq doom--modeline-bg (face-attribute 'mode-line :background)))
+        (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :background "#54252C")
+        (run-with-timer
+         0.1 nil
+         (lambda () (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :background doom--modeline-bg)))))
 
 
 ;; y/n instead of yes/no