diff --git a/tools/cabana/util.cc b/tools/cabana/util.cc
index 726cbbe2a1..023e893e11 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/util.cc
+++ b/tools/cabana/util.cc
@@ -65,11 +65,6 @@ MessageBytesDelegate::MessageBytesDelegate(QObject *parent) : QStyledItemDelegat
 }
 
 void MessageBytesDelegate::paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionViewItem &option, const QModelIndex &index) const {
-  QList<QVariant> colors = index.data(Qt::UserRole).toList();
-  if (colors.empty()) {
-    QStyledItemDelegate::paint(painter, option, index);
-    return;
-  }
   QStyleOptionViewItemV4 opt = option;
   initStyleOption(&opt, index);
 
@@ -87,6 +82,7 @@ void MessageBytesDelegate::paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionViewItem &
   int m = space.width() / 2;
   const QMargins margins(m, m, m, m);
 
+  QList<QVariant> colors = index.data(Qt::UserRole).toList();
   int i = 0;
   for (auto &byte : opt.text.split(" ")) {
     if (i < colors.size()) {