diff --git a/lib/completion.zsh b/lib/completion.zsh
index f5b292471..5d82508a9 100644
--- a/lib/completion.zsh
+++ b/lib/completion.zsh
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ else
   fi
 fi
 
-zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ''
+if [ "x$LS_COLORS" = "x" ]; then
+    zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ''
+else
+    zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}
+fi
 
 # should this be in keybindings?
 bindkey -M menuselect '^o' accept-and-infer-next-history