diff --git a/examples/arrays_and_functions.nes b/examples/arrays_and_functions.nes
index 481c3da..ab94d15 100644
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diff --git a/examples/audio_demo.nes b/examples/audio_demo.nes
index cff3bea..cecd4e0 100644
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diff --git a/examples/bitwise_ops.nes b/examples/bitwise_ops.nes
index 50571da..9f57276 100644
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diff --git a/examples/bouncing_ball.nes b/examples/bouncing_ball.nes
index 74adae0..6970f4a 100644
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diff --git a/examples/coin_cavern.nes b/examples/coin_cavern.nes
index 230f497..6ae24af 100644
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diff --git a/examples/comparisons.nes b/examples/comparisons.nes
index 99c527b..f98c42d 100644
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diff --git a/examples/function_chain.nes b/examples/function_chain.nes
index b68a2ac..84a89d7 100644
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diff --git a/examples/hello_sprite.nes b/examples/hello_sprite.nes
index 09872a2..03e695c 100644
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diff --git a/examples/inline_asm_demo.nes b/examples/inline_asm_demo.nes
index 2c19839..fd89a0e 100644
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diff --git a/examples/logic_ops.nes b/examples/logic_ops.nes
index 460671b..d2f40bd 100644
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diff --git a/examples/loop_break_continue.nes b/examples/loop_break_continue.nes
index 0d66288..1f28ccc 100644
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diff --git a/examples/match_demo.nes b/examples/match_demo.nes
index aa3dd91..7bdc158 100644
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diff --git a/examples/metasprite_demo.nes b/examples/metasprite_demo.nes
index a42abea..6fcad6f 100644
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diff --git a/examples/mmc1_banked.nes b/examples/mmc1_banked.nes
index c647061..4c90e57 100644
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diff --git a/examples/mmc3_per_state_split.nes b/examples/mmc3_per_state_split.nes
index 43a0a22..88a2425 100644
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diff --git a/examples/nested_structs.nes b/examples/nested_structs.nes
index 0ae7f4e..5fa3196 100644
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diff --git a/examples/noise_triangle_sfx.nes b/examples/noise_triangle_sfx.nes
index 619fda3..e4fdf68 100644
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diff --git a/examples/scanline_split.nes b/examples/scanline_split.nes
index 24096ea..d39912d 100644
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diff --git a/examples/sfx_pitch_envelope.nes b/examples/sfx_pitch_envelope.nes
index 7075ebd..8989f4d 100644
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diff --git a/examples/sprite_flicker_demo.nes b/examples/sprite_flicker_demo.nes
index 6b0f146..2481636 100644
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diff --git a/examples/sprites_and_palettes.nes b/examples/sprites_and_palettes.nes
index 3f0fe1d..59e1e2f 100644
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diff --git a/examples/state_machine.nes b/examples/state_machine.nes
index c02ee94..948a84a 100644
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diff --git a/examples/structs_enums_for.nes b/examples/structs_enums_for.nes
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diff --git a/examples/two_player.nes b/examples/two_player.nes
index c5a75b3..db4c774 100644
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diff --git a/examples/uxrom_banked.nes b/examples/uxrom_banked.nes
index a0b7aa8..15844ed 100644
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diff --git a/examples/uxrom_banked_to_banked.nes b/examples/uxrom_banked_to_banked.nes
index f675664..fb01da7 100644
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diff --git a/examples/uxrom_user_banked.nes b/examples/uxrom_user_banked.nes
index b9fb319..8c98c50 100644
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diff --git a/src/linker/mod.rs b/src/linker/mod.rs
index 3f9927a..2a482c6 100644
--- a/src/linker/mod.rs
+++ b/src/linker/mod.rs
@@ -157,7 +157,13 @@ const DEFAULT_SPRITE_CHR: [u8; 16] = [
     0b0011_1100,
 ];
 
-/// Default palette data for M1 (writes to PPU $3F00).
+/// Default palette data for M1 (writes to PPU $3F00). Spliced into
+/// PRG under [`DEFAULT_PALETTE_LABEL`] when the program has no
+/// user-declared palette, and loaded by
+/// [`runtime::gen_initial_palette_load`] via the same indirect-loop
+/// path that user palettes use — keeps the reset-time palette
+/// loader small (one code path, ~20 bytes) instead of the old
+/// 170-byte per-entry unrolled store sequence.
 const DEFAULT_PALETTE: [u8; 32] = [
     // Background palettes
     0x0F, 0x00, 0x10, 0x20, // palette 0 (black, dark gray, light gray, white)
@@ -171,6 +177,12 @@ const DEFAULT_PALETTE: [u8; 32] = [
     0x0F, 0x12, 0x22, 0x32, // sprite palette 3
 ];
 
+/// Label under which [`DEFAULT_PALETTE`] is spliced into PRG when
+/// emitted. Prefixed with `__` so it can never collide with a
+/// user-declared palette's label, which the asset pipeline prefixes
+/// with `__palette_`.
+const DEFAULT_PALETTE_LABEL: &str = "__default_palette";
+
 impl Linker {
     pub fn new(mirroring: Mirroring) -> Self {
         Self {
@@ -414,7 +426,16 @@ impl Linker {
         if let Some(first_palette) = palettes.first() {
             all_instructions.extend(runtime::gen_initial_palette_load(&first_palette.label()));
         } else {
-            all_instructions.extend(self.gen_palette_load());
+            // No user palette: fall back to a sensible built-in
+            // palette so sprites show up in a reasonable colour
+            // scheme without any user setup. Uses the same indirect
+            // loop loader as the user-palette path (reads a 32-byte
+            // blob through a ZP pointer) — ~20 bytes of code plus a
+            // 32-byte data block that gets spliced in below, versus
+            // the ~170 bytes the old inline-stores path cost. The
+            // data block lives alongside the user palette blobs so
+            // the label resolves in the normal assembly pass.
+            all_instructions.extend(runtime::gen_initial_palette_load(DEFAULT_PALETTE_LABEL));
         }
 
         // Load the initial background if the program declared any.
@@ -550,6 +571,18 @@ impl Linker {
         for pal in palettes {
             all_instructions.extend(runtime::gen_data_block(&pal.label(), pal.colors.to_vec()));
         }
+        // When the program has no user palette, splice the built-in
+        // default palette blob under `__default_palette` so the
+        // reset-time loop loader above can resolve it. Programs
+        // that declare a palette fall through the user path and
+        // skip this entirely — saves 32 bytes of ROM data when the
+        // default is unused.
+        if palettes.is_empty() {
+            all_instructions.extend(runtime::gen_data_block(
+                DEFAULT_PALETTE_LABEL,
+                DEFAULT_PALETTE.to_vec(),
+            ));
+        }
         for bg in backgrounds {
             all_instructions.extend(runtime::gen_data_block(
                 &bg.tiles_label(),
@@ -753,24 +786,4 @@ impl Linker {
             fixed_bank_file_offset,
         }
     }
-
-    /// Generate instructions to load the default palette into the PPU.
-    fn gen_palette_load(&self) -> Vec<Instruction> {
-        let mut out = Vec::new();
-
-        // Set PPU address to $3F00 (palette start)
-        out.push(Instruction::new(LDA, AM::Absolute(0x2002))); // read PPU status to reset latch
-        out.push(Instruction::new(LDA, AM::Immediate(0x3F)));
-        out.push(Instruction::new(STA, AM::Absolute(0x2006))); // PPU addr high byte
-        out.push(Instruction::new(LDA, AM::Immediate(0x00)));
-        out.push(Instruction::new(STA, AM::Absolute(0x2006))); // PPU addr low byte
-
-        // Write all 32 palette bytes
-        for &color in &DEFAULT_PALETTE {
-            out.push(Instruction::new(LDA, AM::Immediate(color)));
-            out.push(Instruction::new(STA, AM::Absolute(0x2007))); // PPU data
-        }
-
-        out
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/linker/tests.rs b/src/linker/tests.rs
index 6b28c10..61f7524 100644
--- a/src/linker/tests.rs
+++ b/src/linker/tests.rs
@@ -633,30 +633,45 @@ fn link_banked_chr_rom_survives_with_switchable_banks() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn palette_load_writes_to_ppu() {
+fn default_palette_blob_present_when_no_user_palette() {
+    // With no user palette, the linker emits the shared reset-time
+    // loop loader (which writes twice to `$2006` and loops writing
+    // through `$2007`) and splices a 32-byte `__default_palette`
+    // data block into PRG. The end-to-end ROM should contain the
+    // default palette bytes verbatim at some offset in the fixed
+    // bank.
     let linker = Linker::new(Mirroring::Horizontal);
-    let palette_insts = linker.gen_palette_load();
+    let user_code = vec![Instruction::new(NOP, AM::Label("__ir_main_loop".into()))];
+    let rom = linker.link(&user_code);
 
-    // Should write to PPU address register ($2006) twice
-    let ppu_addr_writes: Vec<_> = palette_insts
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|i| i.opcode == STA && i.mode == AM::Absolute(0x2006))
-        .collect();
-    assert_eq!(
-        ppu_addr_writes.len(),
-        2,
-        "should set PPU address (high and low bytes)"
-    );
+    // The first four bytes of DEFAULT_PALETTE are {0x0F, 0x00, 0x10,
+    // 0x20}; they should appear verbatim in the PRG portion of the
+    // iNES file (bytes 16..16+16_384). We look for that 4-byte
+    // sequence rather than matching the full 32 bytes so this stays
+    // robust against minor palette tweaks.
+    let prg = &rom[16..16 + 16_384];
+    let found = prg.windows(4).any(|w| w == [0x0F, 0x00, 0x10, 0x20]);
+    assert!(found, "default palette bytes should appear in PRG");
+}
 
-    // Should write 32 palette bytes to $2007
-    let ppu_data_writes: Vec<_> = palette_insts
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|i| i.opcode == STA && i.mode == AM::Absolute(0x2007))
-        .collect();
-    assert_eq!(
-        ppu_data_writes.len(),
-        32,
-        "should write all 32 palette bytes"
+#[test]
+fn no_default_palette_blob_when_user_palette_present() {
+    // A program that declares its own palette should suppress the
+    // built-in fallback entirely — the `__default_palette` label
+    // never gets emitted, and the assembler's label table doesn't
+    // contain it.
+    use crate::assets::PaletteData;
+    let linker = Linker::new(Mirroring::Horizontal);
+    let user_code = vec![Instruction::new(NOP, AM::Label("__ir_main_loop".into()))];
+    let user_pal = PaletteData {
+        name: "Menu".into(),
+        colors: [0x0F; 32],
+    };
+    let result =
+        linker.link_banked_with_ppu_detailed(&user_code, &[], &[], &[], &[user_pal], &[], &[]);
+    assert!(
+        !result.labels.contains_key("__default_palette"),
+        "default palette must be suppressed when user palette is present"
     );
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/emulator/goldens/audio_demo.audio.hash b/tests/emulator/goldens/audio_demo.audio.hash
index aaa85d4..7fbc913 100644
--- a/tests/emulator/goldens/audio_demo.audio.hash
+++ b/tests/emulator/goldens/audio_demo.audio.hash
@@ -1 +1 @@
-49c411ce 132084
+e064fdf0 132084
diff --git a/tests/emulator/goldens/noise_triangle_sfx.audio.hash b/tests/emulator/goldens/noise_triangle_sfx.audio.hash
index e0af6eb..ee351f8 100644
--- a/tests/emulator/goldens/noise_triangle_sfx.audio.hash
+++ b/tests/emulator/goldens/noise_triangle_sfx.audio.hash
@@ -1 +1 @@
-5146a336 132084
+7b0caf36 132084
diff --git a/tests/emulator/goldens/sfx_pitch_envelope.audio.hash b/tests/emulator/goldens/sfx_pitch_envelope.audio.hash
index f4d7072..a4eb4f4 100644
--- a/tests/emulator/goldens/sfx_pitch_envelope.audio.hash
+++ b/tests/emulator/goldens/sfx_pitch_envelope.audio.hash
@@ -1 +1 @@
-eec31111 132084
+c1ba0463 132084