diff --git a/java/res/color/key_text_color_holo.xml b/java/res/color/key_text_color_holo.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index d034a945f..000000000
--- a/java/res/color/key_text_color_holo.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<!-- Copyright (C) 2013 The Android Open Source Project
-
-     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-     You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-     limitations under the License.
--->
-
-<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-    <!-- Functional keys. -->
-    <item android:state_single="true" android:state_pressed="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_functional_holo" />
-    <item android:state_single="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_functional_holo" />
-
-    <!-- Action keys. -->
-    <item android:state_active="true" android:state_pressed="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-    <item android:state_active="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-
-    <!-- Toggle keys. Use checkable/checked state. -->
-    <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true" android:state_pressed="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-    <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_pressed="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-    <item android:state_checkable="true" android:state_checked="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-    <item android:state_checkable="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-
-    <!-- Empty background keys. -->
-    <item android:state_empty="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-
-    <!-- Normal keys. -->
-    <item android:state_pressed="true"
-          android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-    <item android:color="@color/key_text_color_normal_holo" />
-</selector>
diff --git a/java/res/values/colors.xml b/java/res/values/colors.xml
index 93f25a7f6..517174495 100644
--- a/java/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/java/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     <color name="typed_word_color_ics">#D833B5E5</color>
     <color name="suggested_word_color_ics">#B233B5E5</color>
     <color name="highlight_translucent_color_ics">#9933B5E5</color>
+    <color name="key_text_color_holo">@android:color/white</color>
     <color name="key_text_shadow_color_holo">@android:color/transparent</color>
     <color name="key_text_inactivated_color_holo">#66E0E4E5</color>
     <color name="key_hint_letter_color_holo">#80000000</color>
@@ -65,7 +66,4 @@
     <!-- TODO: Color which should be included in the theme -->
     <color name="emoji_key_background_color">#00000000</color>
     <color name="emoji_key_pressed_background_color">#30FFFFFF</color>
-
-    <color name="key_text_color_normal_holo">@android:color/white</color>
-    <color name="key_text_color_functional_holo">@android:color/white</color>
 </resources>
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java
index ceda9ee9a..afaf2cc57 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/Key.java
@@ -137,8 +137,6 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
 
     private final OptionalAttributes mOptionalAttributes;
 
-    private static final int DEFAULT_TEXT_COLOR = 0xFFFFFFFF;
-
     private static final class OptionalAttributes {
         /** Text to output when pressed. This can be multiple characters, like ".com" */
         public final String mOutputText;
@@ -585,22 +583,7 @@ public class Key implements Comparable<Key> {
     }
 
     public final int selectTextColor(final KeyDrawParams params) {
-        if (isShiftedLetterActivated()) {
-            return params.mTextInactivatedColor;
-        }
-        if (params.mTextColorStateList == null) {
-            return DEFAULT_TEXT_COLOR;
-        }
-        final int[] state;
-        // TODO: Hack!!!!!!!! Consider having a new attribute for the functional text labels.
-        // Currently, we distinguish "input key" from "functional key" by checking the
-        // length of the label( > 1) and "functional" attributes (= true).
-        if (mLabel != null && mLabel.length() > 1) {
-            state = getCurrentDrawableState();
-        } else {
-            state = KEY_STATE_NORMAL;
-        }
-        return params.mTextColorStateList.getColorForState(state, DEFAULT_TEXT_COLOR);
+        return isShiftedLetterActivated() ? params.mTextInactivatedColor : params.mTextColor;
     }
 
     public final int selectHintTextSize(final KeyDrawParams params) {
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyDrawParams.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyDrawParams.java
index b528b692e..1716fa049 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyDrawParams.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyDrawParams.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package com.android.inputmethod.keyboard.internal;
 
-import android.content.res.ColorStateList;
 import android.graphics.Typeface;
 
 import com.android.inputmethod.latin.utils.ResourceUtils;
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ public final class KeyDrawParams {
     public int mHintLabelSize;
     public int mPreviewTextSize;
 
-    public ColorStateList mTextColorStateList;
+    public int mTextColor;
     public int mTextInactivatedColor;
     public int mTextShadowColor;
     public int mHintLetterColor;
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ public final class KeyDrawParams {
         mHintLabelSize = copyFrom.mHintLabelSize;
         mPreviewTextSize = copyFrom.mPreviewTextSize;
 
-        mTextColorStateList = copyFrom.mTextColorStateList;
+        mTextColor = copyFrom.mTextColor;
         mTextInactivatedColor = copyFrom.mTextInactivatedColor;
         mTextShadowColor = copyFrom.mTextShadowColor;
         mHintLetterColor = copyFrom.mHintLetterColor;
@@ -90,8 +89,8 @@ public final class KeyDrawParams {
                 attr.mShiftedLetterHintRatio, mShiftedLetterHintSize);
         mHintLabelSize = selectTextSize(keyHeight, attr.mHintLabelRatio, mHintLabelSize);
         mPreviewTextSize = selectTextSize(keyHeight, attr.mPreviewTextRatio, mPreviewTextSize);
-        mTextColorStateList =
-                attr.mTextColorStateList != null ? attr.mTextColorStateList : mTextColorStateList;
+
+        mTextColor = selectColor(attr.mTextColor, mTextColor);
         mTextInactivatedColor = selectColor(attr.mTextInactivatedColor, mTextInactivatedColor);
         mTextShadowColor = selectColor(attr.mTextShadowColor, mTextShadowColor);
         mHintLetterColor = selectColor(attr.mHintLetterColor, mHintLetterColor);
diff --git a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyVisualAttributes.java b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyVisualAttributes.java
index c3e0aa685..df386fce4 100644
--- a/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyVisualAttributes.java
+++ b/java/src/com/android/inputmethod/keyboard/internal/KeyVisualAttributes.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package com.android.inputmethod.keyboard.internal;
 
-import android.content.res.ColorStateList;
 import android.content.res.TypedArray;
 import android.graphics.Typeface;
 import android.util.SparseIntArray;
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ public final class KeyVisualAttributes {
     public final float mHintLabelRatio;
     public final float mPreviewTextRatio;
 
-    public final ColorStateList mTextColorStateList;
+    public final int mTextColor;
     public final int mTextInactivatedColor;
     public final int mTextShadowColor;
     public final int mHintLetterColor;
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ public final class KeyVisualAttributes {
         mPreviewTextRatio = ResourceUtils.getFraction(keyAttr,
                 R.styleable.Keyboard_Key_keyPreviewTextRatio);
 
-        mTextColorStateList = keyAttr.getColorStateList(R.styleable.Keyboard_Key_keyTextColor);
+        mTextColor = keyAttr.getColor(R.styleable.Keyboard_Key_keyTextColor, 0);
         mTextInactivatedColor = keyAttr.getColor(
                 R.styleable.Keyboard_Key_keyTextInactivatedColor, 0);
         mTextShadowColor = keyAttr.getColor(R.styleable.Keyboard_Key_keyTextShadowColor, 0);