diff --git a/includes/script.js b/includes/script.js
index eb0ad40..10ee0fc 100644
--- a/includes/script.js
+++ b/includes/script.js
@@ -161,6 +161,9 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
         if (_.find(bitsyData.palettes, {'id': palette.id})) {
             // user has already selected a palette, leave it be
 
+            // in case this is the first run:
+            palette = _.find(bitsyData.palettes, {'id': palette.id})
+
             // if we just set the palette to the newly imported palette with the same ID,
             // we will lose any changes the user has made to the palettes
             // is this a big issue considering that the palettes cannot be currently saved anyway?