diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 8d28f89c..d380a87a 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@
 - python vips8 binding
 - python vips8 test suite: test_arithmetic.py, test_colour.py,
   test_conversion.py
-- better extra band handling by colour, again
 - move zoomify ImageProperties file, now a better match to the offical tool
 - rename VIPS_ANGLE_180 as VIPS_ANGLE_D180 etc. to help python
 
+8/10/14 started 7.40.11
+- rework extra band handling for colour functions
+
 8/9/14 started 7.40.10
 - icc_import and icc_transform checks the input profile for compatibility 
   with the image, thanks James
diff --git a/libvips/colour/Lab2LabQ.c b/libvips/colour/Lab2LabQ.c
index bd982508..a7563645 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/Lab2LabQ.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/Lab2LabQ.c
@@ -149,11 +149,11 @@ vips_Lab2LabQ_init( VipsLab2LabQ *Lab2LabQ )
 	colour->coding = VIPS_CODING_LABQ;
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_LABQ;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 4;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	code->input_format = VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/libvips/colour/Lab2LabS.c b/libvips/colour/Lab2LabS.c
index c7c3a79f..95713c85 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/Lab2LabS.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/Lab2LabS.c
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ vips_Lab2LabS_init( VipsLab2LabS *Lab2LabS )
 
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_LABS;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 3;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	code->input_format = VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/libvips/colour/LabS2Lab.c b/libvips/colour/LabS2Lab.c
index 32de7be4..f83c76b0 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/LabS2Lab.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/LabS2Lab.c
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ vips_LabS2Lab_init( VipsLabS2Lab *LabS2Lab )
 
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_LAB;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 3;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	code->input_format = VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/libvips/colour/LabS2LabQ.c b/libvips/colour/LabS2LabQ.c
index 06601e3e..5f896a88 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/LabS2LabQ.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/LabS2LabQ.c
@@ -137,11 +137,11 @@ vips_LabS2LabQ_init( VipsLabS2LabQ *LabS2LabQ )
 	colour->coding = VIPS_CODING_LABQ;
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_LABQ;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 4;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	code->input_format = VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/libvips/colour/float2rad.c b/libvips/colour/float2rad.c
index a133b799..fecaa669 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/float2rad.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/float2rad.c
@@ -212,11 +212,11 @@ vips_float2rad_init( VipsFloat2rad *float2rad )
 	colour->coding = VIPS_CODING_RAD;
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_scRGB;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 4;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	code->input_format = VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c b/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c
index c11a6a27..0c59157d 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c
@@ -506,7 +506,9 @@ vips_icc_load_profile_image( const char *domain, VipsImage *image )
 		return( NULL ); 
 	}
 
-	if( image->Bands != vips_icc_profile_needs_bands( profile ) ) {
+	/* We allow extra bands for eg. alpha.
+	 */
+	if( image->Bands < vips_icc_profile_needs_bands( profile ) ) {
 		VIPS_FREEF( cmsCloseProfile, profile );
 		vips_warn( domain, 
 			"%s", _( "embedded profile incompatible with image" ) );
@@ -528,7 +530,9 @@ vips_icc_load_profile_file( const char *domain,
 		return( NULL );
 	}
 
-	if( image->Bands != vips_icc_profile_needs_bands( profile ) ) {
+	/* We allow extra bands for eg. alpha.
+	 */
+	if( image->Bands < vips_icc_profile_needs_bands( profile ) ) {
 		VIPS_FREEF( cmsCloseProfile, profile );
 		vips_warn( domain, 
 			_( "profile \"%s\" incompatible with image" ),
diff --git a/libvips/colour/sRGB2scRGB.c b/libvips/colour/sRGB2scRGB.c
index 1102365e..c8b21aad 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/sRGB2scRGB.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/sRGB2scRGB.c
@@ -163,10 +163,10 @@ vips_sRGB2scRGB_init( VipssRGB2scRGB *sRGB2scRGB )
 	colour->coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_scRGB;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 3;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 
 	/* The default. This can get changed above ^^ if we see a 
 	 * 16-bit input.
diff --git a/libvips/colour/scRGB2sRGB.c b/libvips/colour/scRGB2sRGB.c
index 685f4c34..ef00c959 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/scRGB2sRGB.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/scRGB2sRGB.c
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ vips_scRGB2sRGB_init( VipsscRGB2sRGB *scRGB2sRGB )
 	colour->coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
 	colour->interpretation = VIPS_INTERPRETATION_sRGB;
 	colour->format = VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR;
+	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	colour->bands = 3;
 
 	code->input_coding = VIPS_CODING_NONE;
-	colour->input_bands = 3;
 	code->input_format = VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT;
 
 	scRGB2sRGB->depth = 8;