diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
index 74bc7f697..1856c6a15 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pub mod plotters;
 mod props;
 pub use draw2::breakline::BreaklineOptions;
 pub use props::MatchProps;
-pub(crate) use props::set_current_color_value;
+pub(crate) use props::{current_color_value, set_current_color_value};
 mod qselect;
 mod selecttools;
 mod settings;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs
index c89204c22..0150c3390 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs
@@ -431,7 +431,11 @@ fn run_color(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 pub(crate) fn set_current_color_value(s: &mut Session, v: &Value) -> Option<()> {
     // An out-of-range index is refused here, where `color` folds it to ByLayer.
     let c = match v {
-        Value::String(t) => Color::parse(t),
+        // "RGB:r,g,b" is how `getvar` reads a true colour back, so a saved value can be restored.
+        Value::String(t) => match t.trim().get(..4).filter(|p| p.eq_ignore_ascii_case("rgb:")).and_then(|_| t.trim().get(4..)) {
+            Some(triple) => Color::parse(triple).filter(|c| matches!(c, Color::True(_))),
+            None => Color::parse(t),
+        },
         Value::Number(n) => n.as_i64().and_then(|i| Color::parse(&i.to_string())),
         _ => None,
     }?;
@@ -439,6 +443,20 @@ pub(crate) fn set_current_color_value(s: &mut Session, v: &Value) -> Option<()>
     Some(())
 }
 
+/// `getvar CECOLOR` as AutoCAD gives it, always text: "BYLAYER", "BYBLOCK", the index ("1" for
+/// red) or "RGB:r,g,b".
+pub(crate) fn current_color_value(d: &cadcraft_doc::Drawing) -> String {
+    if let Some(rgb) = d.header.get("CECOLOR_RGB").and_then(|v| v.as_i64()).and_then(|v| u32::try_from(v).ok()) {
+        let cadcraft_color::Rgb(r, g, b) = cadcraft_color::Rgb::from_u32(rgb);
+        return format!("RGB:{r},{g},{b}");
+    }
+    match Color::from_aci(d.header.i64("CECOLOR", 256) as i16) {
+        Color::ByLayer => "BYLAYER".into(),
+        Color::ByBlock => "BYBLOCK".into(),
+        other => other.to_aci().to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
 /// A true colour keeps its RGB in CECOLOR_RGB (which wins for new objects); any other colour must
 /// clear a stale one.
 fn set_current_color(d: &mut cadcraft_doc::Drawing, c: Color) {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/lisp/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/lisp/tests.rs
index 820a9812b..0d8e12ce0 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/lisp/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/lisp/tests.rs
@@ -455,6 +455,15 @@ fn getvar_drawing_and_session_variables() {
     assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "(getvar \"DWGTITLED\")"), "1");
 }
 
+/// CECOLOR is a string in AutoCAD, whatever it was set from (#1999).
+#[test]
+fn getvar_cecolor_is_a_string() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "(list (getvar \"CECOLOR\") (type (getvar \"CECOLOR\")))"), "(\"BYLAYER\" STR)");
+    assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "(setvar \"CECOLOR\" \"red\") (getvar \"CECOLOR\")"), "\"1\"");
+    assert_eq!(ok(&mut s, "(setvar \"CECOLOR\" \"10,20,30\") (getvar \"CECOLOR\")"), "\"RGB:10,20,30\"");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn input_functions_take_supplied_answers() {
     let mut s = session();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/sysvars.rs b/crates/engine/src/sysvars.rs
index 042185772..e22529aac 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/sysvars.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/sysvars.rs
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ pub fn get(s: &Session, name: &str) -> Option<Value> {
         // Held in radians (`$ANGBASE` in DXF is in degrees); reported in degrees, like POLARANG.
         "ANGBASE" => json!(s.doc().ok()?.header.f64("ANGBASE", 0.0).to_degrees()),
         "CONSTRAINTINFER" => json!(i32::from(s.doc().ok()?.parametric.settings.infer)),
+        // Text, as AutoCAD reads it back; the header keeps the index (and CECOLOR_RGB) for DXF.
+        "CECOLOR" => json!(crate::cmd::current_color_value(s.doc().ok()?)),
         // Process-wide font substitution (profile settings, not saved in the drawing).
         "FONTALT" => json!(cadcraft_fonts::ttf::font_alt()),
         "FONTFALLBACK" => json!(cadcraft_fonts::ttf::fallback_fonts()),
@@ -447,7 +449,7 @@ pub fn list(s: &Session) -> Value {
     }
     if let Ok(d) = s.doc() {
         for (k, v) in &d.header.vars {
-            if matches!(k.as_str(), "ANGBASE" | "SNAPUNIT" | "GRIDUNIT") {
+            if matches!(k.as_str(), "ANGBASE" | "SNAPUNIT" | "GRIDUNIT" | "CECOLOR") {
                 m.insert(k.clone(), get(s, k).unwrap_or(Value::Null));
             } else if !k.starts_with("CADCRAFT_") {
                 m.insert(k.clone(), serde_json::to_value(v).unwrap_or(Value::Null));
diff --git a/crates/engine/tests/it/setvar_cecolor.rs b/crates/engine/tests/it/setvar_cecolor.rs
index a8347ddcb..e37ac2966 100644
--- a/crates/engine/tests/it/setvar_cecolor.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/tests/it/setvar_cecolor.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! `setvar CECOLOR` takes what the `color` command takes: "ByLayer", "ByBlock", a colour name or an
-//! index (#1999).
+//! index (#1999). `getvar CECOLOR` reads it back as AutoCAD does, as text: "BYLAYER", "BYBLOCK",
+//! the index ("1" for red) or "RGB:r,g,b".
 
 use cadcraft_engine::Session;
 use cadcraft_engine::doc::color::{Color, Rgb};
@@ -14,22 +15,66 @@ fn new_line_color(s: &mut Session) -> Color {
     s.doc().unwrap().model.last().unwrap().common.color
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn getvar_cecolor_of_a_new_drawing_is_bylayer() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!("BYLAYER"));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn setvar_cecolor_accepts_names() {
-    for (value, aci) in [("BYLAYER", 256), ("ByLayer", 256), ("BYBLOCK", 0), ("red", 1), ("250", 250)] {
+    for (value, shown) in [
+        ("BYLAYER", "BYLAYER"),
+        ("ByLayer", "BYLAYER"),
+        ("256", "BYLAYER"),
+        ("BYBLOCK", "BYBLOCK"),
+        ("0", "BYBLOCK"),
+        ("red", "1"),
+        ("7", "7"),
+        ("250", "250"),
+        ("RGB:10,20,30", "RGB:10,20,30"),
+        ("10,20,30", "RGB:10,20,30"),
+    ] {
         let mut s = Session::new();
         s.execute("setvar", &json!({ "name": "CECOLOR", "value": value })).unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("{value}: {e}"));
-        assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!(aci), "{value}");
+        assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!(shown), "{value}");
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn getvar_cecolor_after_the_color_command() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    s.execute("color", &json!({ "color": "ByBlock" })).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!("BYBLOCK"));
+    s.execute("color", &json!({ "color": "10,20,30" })).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!("RGB:10,20,30"));
+}
+
+/// The value `getvar` gives back is one `setvar` takes, so saving and restoring keeps a true colour.
+#[test]
+fn getvar_cecolor_restores_a_true_colour() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    s.execute("color", &json!({ "color": "10,20,30" })).unwrap();
+    let saved = cecolor(&mut s);
+    s.execute("setvar", &json!({ "name": "CECOLOR", "value": "250" })).unwrap();
+    s.execute("setvar", &json!({ "name": "CECOLOR", "value": saved })).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(new_line_color(&mut s), Color::True(Rgb(10, 20, 30)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn setvar_cecolor_lists_cecolor_as_text() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    s.execute("setvar", &json!({ "name": "CECOLOR", "value": "red" })).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(cadcraft_engine::sysvars::list(&s)["CECOLOR"], json!("1"));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn setvar_cecolor_name_replaces_a_true_colour() {
     let mut s = Session::new();
     s.execute("color", &json!({ "color": "10,20,30" })).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(new_line_color(&mut s), Color::True(Rgb(10, 20, 30)));
     s.execute("setvar", &json!({ "name": "CECOLOR", "value": "ByLayer" })).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!(256));
+    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!("BYLAYER"));
     assert_eq!(new_line_color(&mut s), Color::ByLayer);
 }
 
@@ -44,8 +89,8 @@ fn setvar_cecolor_number_replaces_a_true_colour() {
 #[test]
 fn setvar_cecolor_refuses_what_is_not_a_colour() {
     let mut s = Session::new();
-    for bad in [json!("chartreuse"), json!(257), json!(-1), json!(true)] {
+    for bad in [json!("chartreuse"), json!(257), json!(-1), json!(true), json!("RGB:"), json!("RGB:300,0,0")] {
         assert!(s.execute("setvar", &json!({ "name": "CECOLOR", "value": bad })).is_err(), "{bad}");
     }
-    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!(256));
+    assert_eq!(cecolor(&mut s), json!("BYLAYER"));
 }