diff --git a/applications/terminal/vimrc b/applications/terminal/vimrc
index 257846c..24051b9 100644
--- a/applications/terminal/vimrc
+++ b/applications/terminal/vimrc
@@ -32,3 +32,10 @@ if &t_Co > 8
     let &colorcolumn="80,".join(range(120,999),",")
     highlight ColorColumn ctermbg=235 guibg=#2c2d27
 endif
+
+" vim hardcodes background color erase even if the terminfo file does
+" not contain bce (not to mention that libvte based terminals
+" incorrectly contain bce in their terminfo files). This causes
+" incorrect background rendering when using a color theme with a
+" background color.
+let &t_ut=''