diff --git a/autoload/airline/themes.vim b/autoload/airline/themes.vim
index 81ed951..c457dde 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/themes.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/themes.vim
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ function! airline#themes#patch(palette)
   endfor
 
   let a:palette.accents = get(a:palette, 'accents', {})
+  let a:palette.accents.bold = [ '', '', '', '', 'bold' ]
+  let a:palette.accents.italic = [ '', '', '', '', 'italic' ]
+
   if !has_key(a:palette.accents, 'red')
     let a:palette.accents.red = [ '#ff0000' , '' , 160 , '' ]
   endif