diff --git a/_imaging.c b/_imaging.c
index de1fa5be5..912159772 100644
--- a/_imaging.c
+++ b/_imaging.c
@@ -471,13 +471,13 @@ getpixel(Imaging im, ImagingAccess access, int x, int y)
 static char*
 getink(PyObject* color, Imaging im, char* ink)
 {
-    int r, g, b, a;
-    double f;
+    int r=0, g=0, b=0, a=0;
+    double f=0;
 
     /* fill ink buffer (four bytes) with something that can
        be cast to either UINT8 or INT32 */
 
-    int rIsInt = 1;
+    int rIsInt = 0;
     if (im->type == IMAGING_TYPE_UINT8 ||
         im->type == IMAGING_TYPE_INT32 ||
         im->type == IMAGING_TYPE_SPECIAL) {
@@ -491,9 +491,11 @@ getink(PyObject* color, Imaging im, char* ink)
 			else
 				r = (int) PyLong_AsLong(color);
 #endif
+            rIsInt = 1;
 		}
-		if (r == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
+		if (r == -1 && PyErr_Occurred()) {
 		    rIsInt = 0;
+        }
     }
 
     switch (im->type) {
@@ -501,23 +503,16 @@ getink(PyObject* color, Imaging im, char* ink)
         /* unsigned integer */
         if (im->bands == 1) {
             /* unsigned integer, single layer */
-            if (rIsInt != 1)
-                return NULL;
+            if (rIsInt != 1) {
+                if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(color, "i", &r)) {
+                    return NULL;
+                }
+            }
             ink[0] = CLIP(r);
             ink[1] = ink[2] = ink[3] = 0;
         } else {
             a = 255;
-#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03000000
-            if (PyLong_Check(color)) {
-                r = (int) PyLong_AsLong(color);
-#else
-            if (PyInt_Check(color) || PyLong_Check(color)) {
-                if (PyInt_Check(color))
-                    r = PyInt_AS_LONG(color);
-                else
-                    r = (int) PyLong_AsLong(color);
-#endif
-
+            if (rIsInt) {
                 /* compatibility: ABGR */
                 a = (UINT8) (r >> 24);
                 b = (UINT8) (r >> 16);