diff --git a/crates/ericrfb/src/msg.rs b/crates/ericrfb/src/msg.rs
index 7d4e760..c6bb002 100644
--- a/crates/ericrfb/src/msg.rs
+++ b/crates/ericrfb/src/msg.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,32 @@ use crate::proto::{self, read_exact, read_i32_be, read_modified_utf8, read_u8, r
 // Client-to-server message writers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/// Msg type 0: SetPixelFormat — aw.a(...), line 572.
+/// Sets the server to send pixels in 8bpp RGB332 format.
+/// Matches ByteColorRFBRenderer.new() line 76:
+///   a(D.o, 8, false, true, 7, 7, 3, 0, 3, 6)
+pub fn write_set_pixel_format_rgb332(w: &mut impl Write) -> proto::Result<()> {
+    #[rustfmt::skip]
+    let buf: [u8; 20] = [
+        0,                  // msg type 0 = SetPixelFormat
+        0, 0, 0,            // padding
+        8,                  // bits-per-pixel
+        8,                  // depth
+        0,                  // big-endian = false
+        1,                  // true-colour = true
+        0, 7,               // red-max = 7 (u16-BE)
+        0, 7,               // green-max = 7 (u16-BE)
+        0, 3,               // blue-max = 3 (u16-BE)
+        0,                  // red-shift = 0
+        3,                  // green-shift = 3
+        6,                  // blue-shift = 6
+        0, 0, 0,            // padding
+    ];
+    w.write_all(&buf)?;
+    w.flush()?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Msg type 2: SetEncodings — aw.a(int[], int), line 597.
 /// Encoding IDs are i32 (negative values are pseudo-encodings).
 pub fn write_set_encodings(w: &mut impl Write, encodings: &[i32]) -> proto::Result<()> {
diff --git a/crates/ericrfb/src/session.rs b/crates/ericrfb/src/session.rs
index 2b145f8..94d3476 100644
--- a/crates/ericrfb/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/ericrfb/src/session.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ impl ActiveSession {
             server_init: raw.server_init,
         };
 
+        // Tell server to send 8bpp RGB332 pixels
+        msg::write_set_pixel_format_rgb332(&mut session.writer)?;
+
         // Send SetEncodings
         msg::write_set_encodings(&mut session.writer, encodings)?;