diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index 35d6b086..d593eff6 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_SERVER,
 	  .flags = OPTIONS_TABLE_IS_ARRAY,
-	  .default_str = "tmux*:XT,rxvt*:XT,screen*:XT,xterm*:XT",
+	  .default_str = "",
 	  .separator = ","
 	},
 
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 2eb17ae0..fcf39bfb 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -1202,6 +1202,7 @@ struct tty_term {
 #define TERM_DECSLRM 0x4
 #define TERM_DECFRA 0x8
 #define TERM_RGBCOLOURS 0x10
+#define TERM_VT100LIKE 0x20
 	int		 flags;
 
 	LIST_ENTRY(tty_term) entry;
diff --git a/tty-term.c b/tty-term.c
index 4217d6d6..dd65e1e7 100644
--- a/tty-term.c
+++ b/tty-term.c
@@ -561,16 +561,30 @@ tty_term_create(struct tty *tty, char *name, int *feat, int fd, char **cause)
 		goto error;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * If TERM has XT or clear starts with CSI then it is safe to assume
+	 * the terminal is derived from a VT100. This controls whether device
+	 * attributes requests are sent to get more information.
+	 *
+	 * This is a bit of a hack but there aren't that many alternatives.
+	 * Worst case tmux will just fall back to using whatever terminfo(5)
+	 * says without trying to correct anything that is missing.
+	 *
+	 * Also add few features that VT100-like terminals should either
+	 * support or safely ignore.
+	 */
+	s = tty_term_string(term, TTYC_CLEAR);
+	if (tty_term_flag(term, TTYC_XT) || strncmp(s, "\033[", 2) == 0) {
+		term->flags |= TERM_VT100LIKE;
+		tty_add_features(feat, "bpaste,focus,title", ",");
+	}
+
 	/* Add RGB feature if terminal has RGB colours. */
 	if ((tty_term_flag(term, TTYC_TC) || tty_term_has(term, TTYC_RGB)) &&
 	    (!tty_term_has(term, TTYC_SETRGBF) ||
 	    !tty_term_has(term, TTYC_SETRGBB)))
 		tty_add_features(feat, "RGB", ",");
 
-	/* Add some features if terminal has XT. */
-	if (tty_term_flag(term, TTYC_XT))
-		tty_add_features(feat, "bpaste,focus,title", ",");
-
 	/* Apply the features and overrides again. */
 	tty_apply_features(term, *feat);
 	tty_term_apply_overrides(term);
diff --git a/tty.c b/tty.c
index 75942d2d..016ce399 100644
--- a/tty.c
+++ b/tty.c
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ tty_start_tty(struct tty *tty)
 		tty->flags |= TTY_FOCUS;
 		tty_raw(tty, tty_term_string(tty->term, TTYC_ENFCS));
 	}
-	if (tty_term_flag(tty->term, TTYC_XT))
+	if (tty->term->flags & TERM_VT100LIKE)
 		tty_puts(tty, "\033[?7727h");
 
 	evtimer_set(&tty->start_timer, tty_start_timer_callback, tty);
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ tty_send_requests(struct tty *tty)
 	if (~tty->flags & TTY_STARTED)
 		return;
 
-	if (tty_term_flag(tty->term, TTYC_XT)) {
+	if (tty->term->flags & TERM_VT100LIKE) {
 		if (~tty->flags & TTY_HAVEDA)
 			tty_puts(tty, "\033[>c");
 		if (~tty->flags & TTY_HAVEXDA)
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ tty_stop_tty(struct tty *tty)
 		tty->flags &= ~TTY_FOCUS;
 		tty_raw(tty, tty_term_string(tty->term, TTYC_DSFCS));
 	}
-	if (tty_term_flag(tty->term, TTYC_XT))
+	if (tty->term->flags & TERM_VT100LIKE)
 		tty_raw(tty, "\033[?7727l");
 
 	if (tty_use_margin(tty))