diff --git a/examples/rich-text/src/main.rs b/examples/rich-text/src/main.rs
index 66092db..a3d8c41 100644
--- a/examples/rich-text/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/rich-text/src/main.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     editor
         .buffer_mut()
-        .set_rich_text(spans.iter().copied(), Shaping::Advanced);
+        .set_rich_text(spans.iter().copied(), attrs, Shaping::Advanced);
 
     let mut swash_cache = SwashCache::new();
 
diff --git a/src/buffer.rs b/src/buffer.rs
index a04675d..3a32373 100644
--- a/src/buffer.rs
+++ b/src/buffer.rs
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ impl Buffer {
         attrs: Attrs,
         shaping: Shaping,
     ) {
-        self.set_rich_text(font_system, [(text, attrs)], shaping);
+        self.set_rich_text(font_system, [(text, attrs)], attrs, shaping);
     }
 
     /// Set text of buffer, using an iterator of styled spans (pairs of text and attributes)
@@ -634,6 +634,7 @@ impl Buffer {
     ///         ("hello, ", attrs),
     ///         ("cosmic\ntext", attrs.family(Family::Monospace)),
     ///     ],
+    ///     attrs,
     ///     Shaping::Advanced,
     /// );
     /// ```
@@ -641,13 +642,14 @@ impl Buffer {
         &mut self,
         font_system: &mut FontSystem,
         spans: I,
+        default_attrs: Attrs,
         shaping: Shaping,
     ) where
         I: IntoIterator<Item = (&'s str, Attrs<'r>)>,
     {
         self.lines.clear();
 
-        let mut attrs_list = AttrsList::new(Attrs::new());
+        let mut attrs_list = AttrsList::new(default_attrs);
         let mut line_string = String::new();
         let mut end = 0;
         let (string, spans_data): (String, Vec<_>) = spans
@@ -676,7 +678,7 @@ impl Buffer {
                 // this is reached only if this text is empty
                 self.lines.push(BufferLine::new(
                     String::new(),
-                    AttrsList::new(Attrs::new()),
+                    AttrsList::new(default_attrs),
                     shaping,
                 ));
                 break;
@@ -705,7 +707,7 @@ impl Buffer {
                 if maybe_line.is_some() {
                     // finalize this line and start a new line
                     let prev_attrs_list =
-                        core::mem::replace(&mut attrs_list, AttrsList::new(Attrs::new()));
+                        core::mem::replace(&mut attrs_list, AttrsList::new(default_attrs));
                     let prev_line_string = core::mem::take(&mut line_string);
                     let buffer_line = BufferLine::new(prev_line_string, prev_attrs_list, shaping);
                     self.lines.push(buffer_line);
@@ -941,14 +943,16 @@ impl<'a> BorrowedWithFontSystem<'a, Buffer> {
     ///         ("hello, ", attrs),
     ///         ("cosmic\ntext", attrs.family(Family::Monospace)),
     ///     ],
+    ///     attrs,
     ///     Shaping::Advanced,
     /// );
     /// ```
-    pub fn set_rich_text<'r, 's, I>(&mut self, spans: I, shaping: Shaping)
+    pub fn set_rich_text<'r, 's, I>(&mut self, spans: I, default_attrs: Attrs, shaping: Shaping)
     where
         I: IntoIterator<Item = (&'s str, Attrs<'r>)>,
     {
-        self.inner.set_rich_text(self.font_system, spans, shaping);
+        self.inner
+            .set_rich_text(self.font_system, spans, default_attrs, shaping);
     }
 
     /// Draw the buffer