diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 9c29511ef9..8daa68df4d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # 3.14.0 introduced NAME_WLE
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14.0)
-project(notcurses VERSION 2.3.15
+project(notcurses VERSION 2.3.16
   DESCRIPTION "Blingful UI for modern terminal emulators"
   HOMEPAGE_URL "https://nick-black.com/dankwiki/index.php/notcurses"
   LANGUAGES C CXX)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index e888b1d0e1..04700e17d2 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 This document attempts to list user-visible changes and any major internal
 rearrangements of Notcurses.
 
+* 2.3.16 (2021-08-19)
+  * Fix `ncdirect_set_*_rgb()` for the case where an emulator has fewer than
+    8 colors, i.e. vt100. This release exists to make unit tests work again
+    on the Alpine and Fedora buildservers.
+
 * 2.3.15 (2021-08-17)
   * `ncneofetch` has been changed to use "CLI mode" instead of Direct Mode,
     as a proof of concept. It is very likely that Direct Mode will be
diff --git a/cffi/notcurses-pydemo.1.md b/cffi/notcurses-pydemo.1.md
index e95b6d1ecb..245604868e 100644
--- a/cffi/notcurses-pydemo.1.md
+++ b/cffi/notcurses-pydemo.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses-pydemo(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/cffi/setup.py b/cffi/setup.py
index 2cad0a576a..eb45609408 100644
--- a/cffi/setup.py
+++ b/cffi/setup.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def read(fname):
 
 setup(
     name="notcurses",
-    version="2.3.15",
+    version="2.3.16",
     packages=['notcurses'],
     scripts=['notcurses-pydemo', 'ncdirect-pydemo'],
     package_dir={'': 'src'},
diff --git a/doc/Doxyfile b/doc/Doxyfile
index d1fb6f49f1..90a93465ae 100644
--- a/doc/Doxyfile
+++ b/doc/Doxyfile
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ PROJECT_NAME           = Notcurses
 # could be handy for archiving the generated documentation or if some version
 # control system is used.
 
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 2.3.15
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 2.3.16
 
 # Using the PROJECT_BRIEF tag one can provide an optional one line description
 # for a project that appears at the top of each page and should give viewer a
diff --git a/doc/man/index.html b/doc/man/index.html
index 92316a789e..ea5f505da7 100644
--- a/doc/man/index.html
+++ b/doc/man/index.html
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
   </div>
   <hr>
   <iframe align="right" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dcjkezf1ARY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
-  <h2><a href="https://nick-black.com/dankwiki/index.php/Notcurses">notcurses</a> manual pages (<a href="https://github.com/dankamongmen/notcurses/releases/tag/v2.3.15">v2.3.15</a>)</h2>
+  <h2><a href="https://nick-black.com/dankwiki/index.php/Notcurses">notcurses</a> manual pages (<a href="https://github.com/dankamongmen/notcurses/releases/tag/v2.3.16">v2.3.16</a>)</h2>
   <a href="notcurses.3.html">notcurses(3)</a>—a blingful TUI library<br/>
   <h3>Executables (section 1)</h3>
   <a href="ncls.1.html">ncls</a>—list files, displaying multimedia along with them<br/>
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/ncls.1.md b/doc/man/man1/ncls.1.md
index b54be8871f..9acf298c8f 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/ncls.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/ncls.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % ncls(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/ncneofetch.1.md b/doc/man/man1/ncneofetch.1.md
index 52d0c39796..eeb2bf6fd0 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/ncneofetch.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/ncneofetch.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % ncneofetch(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/ncplayer.1.md b/doc/man/man1/ncplayer.1.md
index e3f594a90e..d84b4c3ed4 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/ncplayer.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/ncplayer.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % ncplayer(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/nctetris.1.md b/doc/man/man1/nctetris.1.md
index bf75acf809..d827729924 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/nctetris.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/nctetris.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % nctetris(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-demo.1.md b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-demo.1.md
index ca2c407d64..8bbea6d433 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-demo.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-demo.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses-demo(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-info.1.md b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-info.1.md
index ffa91089d7..e15b81e3ef 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-info.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-info.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses-info(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-input.1.md b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-input.1.md
index 334e280fc1..938fedc3e0 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-input.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-input.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses-input(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-tester.1.md b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-tester.1.md
index ce48ba9152..e6c9f3fbc5 100644
--- a/doc/man/man1/notcurses-tester.1.md
+++ b/doc/man/man1/notcurses-tester.1.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses-tester(1)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md
index ed904304ca..c7b480631a 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_capabilities.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_capabilities.3.md
index 9d1193bd0f..97635cfb06 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_capabilities.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_capabilities.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_capabilities(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_cell.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_cell.3.md
index b311042b71..abf58c0a2b 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_cell.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_cell.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_cell(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_channels.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_channels.3.md
index 2d94bde44e..8be336d338 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_channels.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_channels.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_channels(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_core.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_core.3.md
index db5a38cc68..9ef5453e7d 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_core.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_core.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_core(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md
index e4a77f4aec..3a0fa7c016 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_direct(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fade.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fade.3.md
index 96ed3f279f..e6b6727228 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fade.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fade.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_fade(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fds.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fds.3.md
index a0a2ff517d..4e82cd6ab4 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fds.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_fds.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_fds(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_init.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_init.3.md
index 72b2750b9f..a6989ecb7e 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_init.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_init.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_init(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_input.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_input.3.md
index d93dd87139..9b4c23c253 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_input.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_input.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_input(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_lines.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_lines.3.md
index 2dda9d8fc7..45bceb9601 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_lines.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_lines.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_lines(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_menu.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_menu.3.md
index 0b0e890d76..cdca84be2c 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_menu.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_menu.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_menu(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_metric.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_metric.3.md
index b4af3e344b..726c961be0 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_metric.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_metric.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_metric(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_multiselector.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_multiselector.3.md
index 721d4b9b35..f6baa7627f 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_multiselector.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_multiselector.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_multiselector(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md
index f593017d5f..7ef5ea36b3 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_output.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_output(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_palette.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_palette.3.md
index d10bcd6869..df831505a9 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_palette.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_palette.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_palette(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md
index 0e2819322d..924fd43677 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_plane(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plot.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plot.3.md
index 10984d9515..71b11c3b7d 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plot.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plot.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_plot(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reader.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reader.3.md
index e8838cbdc8..d146f37d26 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reader.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reader.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_reader(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reel.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reel.3.md
index 227e5ce377..8a76a88a87 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reel.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_reel.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_reel(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_refresh.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_refresh.3.md
index c8f9a6876c..035539409d 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_refresh.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_refresh.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_refresh(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md
index 536c4a10ff..5ff2f965e4 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_render(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_selector.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_selector.3.md
index 9befb0d07e..df7b3a487f 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_selector.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_selector.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_selector(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stats.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stats.3.md
index e83c519a36..e977288e44 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stats.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stats.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_stats(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stdplane.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stdplane.3.md
index 87bb2e5b53..181615647d 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stdplane.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stdplane.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_stdplane(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stop.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stop.3.md
index 1999375476..2ee058daed 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stop.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_stop.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_stop(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tabbed.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tabbed.3.md
index 3a251f5890..56910b77ef 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tabbed.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tabbed.3.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 % notcurses_tabbed(3)
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tree.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tree.3.md
index 7f7d46d425..a44f50e851 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tree.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_tree.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_tree(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_util.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_util.3.md
index 6cffefa810..6fe0ae3153 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_util.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_util.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_util(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md
index 6f7024030b..a02b18ecca 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 % notcurses_visual(3)
 % nick black <nickblack@linux.com>
-% v2.3.15
+% v2.3.16
 
 # NAME
 notcurses_visual - notcurses multimedia
diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index 8f19392582..4bd65be96c 100644
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name="notcurses",
-    version="2.3.15",
+    version="2.3.16",
     packages=['notcurses'],
     ext_modules=[
         Extension(
diff --git a/rust/Cargo.toml b/rust/Cargo.toml
index 189ea748d1..62ca0445ed 100644
--- a/rust/Cargo.toml
+++ b/rust/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "libnotcurses-sys"
-version = "2.3.15"
+version = "2.3.16"
 authors = [
     "nick black <dankamongmen@gmail.com>",
 		"José Luis Cruz <joseluis@andamira.net>"
diff --git a/rust/build/build.rs b/rust/build/build.rs
index f2a1dd0857..f46327290b 100644
--- a/rust/build/build.rs
+++ b/rust/build/build.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 // largely taken from https://rust-lang.github.io/rust-bindgen/tutorial-3.html
 fn main() {
     let plib = pkg_config::Config::new()
-        .atleast_version("2.3.15")
+        .atleast_version("2.3.16")
         .probe("notcurses")
         .unwrap();