diff --git a/src/main.go b/src/main.go
index 3948807..8361edc 100644
--- a/src/main.go
+++ b/src/main.go
@@ -172,9 +172,9 @@ Compare the search results an print them in colors depending on what was found
 	*	qualityCutOff: percentage of word needs to be found to count as a match
 	:return
 */
-func showSearch(pattern, searchString string, inAlgn1, inAlgn2 []rune, color string, qualityCutOff float32) string {
+func showSearch(pattern, searchString string, inAlgn1, inAlgn2 []rune, color *string, qualityCutOff float32) string {
 	cMap := getColorMap()
-	_, ok := cMap[color]
+	_, ok := cMap[*color]
 	if !ok {
 		log.Fatal("Invalif color choice:", color)
 	}
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func showSearch(pattern, searchString string, inAlgn1, inAlgn2 []rune, color str
 				sb.WriteString(searchString[:i[0]])
 			}
 			sb.WriteString(cMap["bold"])
-			sb.WriteString(cMap[color])
+			sb.WriteString(cMap[*color])
 			sb.WriteString(searchString[i[0]:i[1]])
 			sb.WriteString(cMap["reset"])
 			// if there is a string between the current and the next match
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func argparse() {
 			reverseRune(ag1)
 			reverseRune(ag2)
 
-			searchStringRes := showSearch(searchPattern, line, ag1, ag2, *colorPtr, float32(quality))
+			searchStringRes := showSearch(searchPattern, line, ag1, ag2, colorPtr, quality)
 			if len(searchStringRes) > 0 {
 				fmt.Printf("%d: %s\n", lineCount, searchStringRes)
 			}
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func argparse() {
 				ag1, ag2 := backtrace(fm, []rune(searchPattern), []rune(line), []rune{}, []rune{}, mI, mJ, *gapPenaltyPtr, *mmPenaltyPtr, *matchBonusPtr)
 				reverseRune(ag1)
 				reverseRune(ag2)
-				searchStringRes := showSearch(searchPattern, line, ag1, ag2, *colorPtr, float32(quality))
+				searchStringRes := showSearch(searchPattern, line, ag1, ag2, colorPtr, quality)
 				if len(searchStringRes) > 0 {
 					fmt.Printf("%d: %s\n", lineCount, searchStringRes)
 				}