diff --git a/adafruit_matrixportal/matrixportal.py b/adafruit_matrixportal/matrixportal.py
index 9daa217..8d357f7 100755
--- a/adafruit_matrixportal/matrixportal.py
+++ b/adafruit_matrixportal/matrixportal.py
@@ -254,10 +254,16 @@ def set_text_color(self, color, index=0):
         :param index: Defaults to 0.
 
         """
-        if self._text[index]:
-            color = self.html_color_convert(color)
-            self._text_color[index] = color
-            self._text[index].color = color
+        if 0 <= index < len(self._text_color):
+            self._text_color[index] = self.html_color_convert(color)
+            if self._text[index] is not None:
+                self._text[index].color = self._text_color[index]
+        else:
+            raise IndexError(
+                "index {} is out of bounds. Please call add_text() and set_text() first.".format(
+                    index
+                )
+            )
 
     def set_text(self, val, index=0):
         """Display text, with indexing into our list of text boxes.