diff --git a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
index a30410daec..ae5e88d405 100644
--- a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
@@ -1148,10 +1148,10 @@ void Segment::blur(uint8_t blur_amount, bool smear) const {
  */
 uint32_t Segment::color_wheel(uint8_t pos) const {
   if (palette) return color_from_palette(pos, false, true, 0); // color_wheel is a continuous (moving) wheel, so wrap end->start (restores pre-0.16 behaviour)
-  uint8_t w = W(getCurrentColor(0));
   CRGBW rgb;
   rgb = CHSV32(static_cast<uint16_t>(pos << 8), 255, 255);
-  return rgb.color32 | (w << 24); // add white channel
+  rgb.w = W(getCurrentColor(0)); // add white channel
+  return rgb.color32;
 }
 
 /*