diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index cd5a6a50c6080..cd0cccfb962c1 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -7119,11 +7119,11 @@ game::vmenu_ret game::list_items( const std::vector<map_item_stack> &item_list )
     ui.on_redraw( [&]( const ui_adaptor & ) {
         reset_item_list_state( w_items_border, iInfoHeight, sort_radius );
 
+        int iStartPos = 0;
         if( ground_items.empty() ) {
             wnoutrefresh( w_items_border );
             mvwprintz( w_items, point( 2, 10 ), c_white, _( "You don't see any items around you!" ) );
         } else {
-            int iStartPos = 0;
             werase( w_items );
             calcStartPos( iStartPos, iActive, iMaxRows, iItemNum );
             int iNum = 0;
@@ -7167,15 +7167,15 @@ game::vmenu_ret game::list_items( const std::vector<map_item_stack> &item_list )
                             sText += string_format( "[%d]", iter->vIG[iThisPage].count );
                         }
 
-                        nc_color col = c_light_green;
-                        if( iNum != iActive ) {
-                            if( high ) {
-                                col = c_yellow;
-                            } else if( low ) {
-                                col = c_red;
-                            } else {
-                                col = iter->example->color_in_inventory();
-                            }
+                        nc_color col = c_light_gray;
+                        if( iNum == iActive ) {
+                            col = hilite( c_white );
+                        } else if( high ) {
+                            col = c_yellow;
+                        } else if( low ) {
+                            col = c_red;
+                        } else {
+                            col = iter->example->color_in_inventory();
                         }
                         trim_and_print( w_items, point( 1, iNum - iStartPos ), width - 9, col, sText );
                         const int numw = iItemNum > 9 ? 2 : 1;
@@ -7227,6 +7227,8 @@ game::vmenu_ret game::list_items( const std::vector<map_item_stack> &item_list )
                             activeItem->vIG[page_num].it->color_in_inventory(),
                             activeItem->vIG[page_num].it->display_name() );
             wprintw( w_item_info, " >" );
+            // move the cursor to the selected item (for screen readers)
+            wmove( w_items, point( 1, iActive - iStartPos ) );
         }
 
         wnoutrefresh( w_items );