diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index c99937d3..e901e249 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -106,8 +106,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry server_options_table[] = {
 
 	{ .name = "terminal-overrides",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
-	  .default_str = "*256col*:colors=256"
-	                 ",xterm*:XT:Ms=\\E]52;%p1%s;%p2%s\\007"
+	  .default_str = "xterm*:XT:Ms=\\E]52;%p1%s;%p2%s\\007"
 	                 ":Cs=\\E]12;%p1%s\\007:Cr=\\E]112\\007"
 			 ":Ss=\\E[%p1%d q:Se=\\E[2 q,screen*:XT"
 	},
diff --git a/tty.c b/tty.c
index c4dfde1d..7be952c8 100644
--- a/tty.c
+++ b/tty.c
@@ -1648,14 +1648,19 @@ tty_try_256(struct tty *tty, u_char colour, const char *type)
 	char	s[32];
 
 	/*
-	 * If the terminfo entry has 256 colours, assume that setaf and setab
-	 * work correctly.
+	 * If the terminfo entry has 256 colours and setaf and setab exist,
+	 * assume that they work correctly.
 	 */
 	if (tty->term->flags & TERM_256COLOURS) {
-		if (*type == '3')
+		if (*type == '3') {
+			if (!tty_term_has(tty->term, TTYC_SETAF))
+				goto fallback;
 			tty_putcode1(tty, TTYC_SETAF, colour);
-		else
+		} else {
+			if (!tty_term_has(tty->term, TTYC_SETAB))
+				goto fallback;
 			tty_putcode1(tty, TTYC_SETAB, colour);
+		}
 		return (0);
 	}
 
@@ -1663,13 +1668,15 @@ tty_try_256(struct tty *tty, u_char colour, const char *type)
 	 * If the user has specified -2 to the client, setaf and setab may not
 	 * work, so send the usual sequence.
 	 */
-	if (tty->term_flags & TERM_256COLOURS) {
-		xsnprintf(s, sizeof s, "\033[%s;5;%hhum", type, colour);
-		tty_puts(tty, s);
-		return (0);
-	}
+	if (tty->term_flags & TERM_256COLOURS)
+		goto fallback;
 
 	return (-1);
+
+fallback:
+	xsnprintf(s, sizeof s, "\033[%s;5;%hhum", type, colour);
+	tty_puts(tty, s);
+	return (0);
 }
 
 void