diff --git a/code/nel/tools/3d/panoply_maker/panoply_maker.cpp b/code/nel/tools/3d/panoply_maker/panoply_maker.cpp
index 328639eb6..2c50dfc83 100644
--- a/code/nel/tools/3d/panoply_maker/panoply_maker.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/tools/3d/panoply_maker/panoply_maker.cpp
@@ -656,6 +656,9 @@ static void BuildColoredVersionForOneBitmap(const CBuildInfo &bi, const std::str
 		{
 			if (is.open(fullInputBitmapPath))
 			{
+				// 8 bits textures are grayscale
+				srcBitmap.loadGrayscaleAsAlpha(false);
+
 				depth = srcBitmap.load(is);
 				is.close();