diff --git a/shell/Owner.py b/shell/Owner.py
index 16310f9f..90f60240 100644
--- a/shell/Owner.py
+++ b/shell/Owner.py
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ class ShellOwner(object):
 
 	def announce(self):
 		# Create and announce our presence
-		self._service = self._pservice.register_service(self._nick, PRESENCE_SERVICE_TYPE)
+		props = { 'color': "#deadbe" }
+		self._service = self._pservice.register_service(self._nick,
+				PRESENCE_SERVICE_TYPE, properties=props)
 		print "Owner '%s' using port %d" % (self._nick, self._service.get_port())
 		self._icon_stream = Stream.Stream.new_from_service(self._service)
 		self._icon_stream.register_reader_handler(self._handle_buddy_icon_request, "get_buddy_icon")
@@ -39,8 +41,3 @@ class ShellOwner(object):
 		if self._icon:
 			return base64.b64encode(self._icon)
 		return ""
-
-	def set_icon(self, icon):
-		"""Can only set icon in constructor for now."""
-		pass
-
diff --git a/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py b/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py
index 33eae9dc..fc4d1855 100644
--- a/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py
+++ b/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ class BuddyDBusHelper(dbus.service.Object):
 		props['name'] = self._parent.get_name()
 		props['ip4_address'] = self._parent.get_address()
 		props['owner'] = self._parent.is_owner()
+		props['color'] = self._parent.get_color()
 		return props
 
 
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ class Buddy(object):
 
 		self._nick_name = service.get_name()
 		self._address = service.get_source_address()
+		self._color = None
 		self._valid = False
 		self._icon = None
 		self._icon_tries = 0
@@ -159,6 +161,7 @@ class Buddy(object):
 			self._valid = True
 			print 'Requesting buddy icon %s' % self._nick_name
 			self._request_buddy_icon(service)
+			self._color = service.get_one_property('color')
 
 		if self._valid:
 			self._dbus_helper.ServiceAppeared(service.object_path())
@@ -243,6 +246,9 @@ class Buddy(object):
 	def get_name(self):
 		return self._nick_name
 
+	def get_color(self):
+		return self._color
+
 	def _set_icon(self, icon):
 		"""Can only set icon for other buddies.  The Owner
 		takes care of setting it's own icon."""
diff --git a/sugar/presence/Buddy.py b/sugar/presence/Buddy.py
index 17327908..5ae41f8f 100644
--- a/sugar/presence/Buddy.py
+++ b/sugar/presence/Buddy.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ class Buddy(gobject.GObject):
 	def is_owner(self):
 		return self._properties['owner']
 
+	def get_color(self):
+		return self._properties['color']
+
 	def get_icon(self):
 		return self._buddy.getIcon()