diff --git a/wxPython/wxPython/lib/colourdb.py b/wxPython/wxPython/lib/colourdb.py
index 82c20f43f4..ec9ae457f2 100644
--- a/wxPython/wxPython/lib/colourdb.py
+++ b/wxPython/wxPython/lib/colourdb.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Load color names/values from the rgb.txt file on my system...
 
 
 def getColourList():
-    return map(lambda x: x[0], getColourInfoList())
+    return [ x[0] for x in getColourInfoList() ]
 
 
 
@@ -656,10 +656,14 @@ def getColourInfoList():
         ]
 
 
+_haveUpdated = False
+
 def updateColourDB():
-    from wxPython.wx import wxTheColourDatabase
-    cl = getColourInfoList()
-    for info in cl:
-        apply(wxTheColourDatabase.Append, info)
+    global _haveUpdated
+    if not _haveUpdated:
+        from wxPython.wx import wxTheColourDatabase
+        cl = getColourInfoList()
+        for info in cl:
+            wxTheColourDatabase.Append(*info)