(normal-top-level): If the value of $TERM indicates that

we are running from xterm or one of its work-alikes, default to a
light background mode.

1 files changed, 16 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index 51a6778f834..0a0919958f3 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -478,7 +478,22 @@ or `CVS', and any subdirectory that contains a file named `.nosearch'."
 	    ;; frame-notice-user-settings didn't (such as on a tty).
 	    ;; frame-set-background-mode is idempotent, so it won't
 	    ;; cause any harm if it's already been done.
-	    (frame-set-background-mode (selected-frame)))
+	    (let ((frame-background-mode frame-background-mode)
+		  (frame (selected-frame))
+		  term)
+	      (when (and (null window-system)
+			 ;; Don't override a possibly customized value.
+			 (null frame-background-mode)
+			 ;; Don't override user specifications.
+			 (null (frame-parameter frame 'reverse))
+			 (let ((bg (frame-parameter frame 'background-color)))
+			   (or (null bg)
+			       (member bg '(unspecified "unspecified-bg")))))
+		(setq term (getenv "TERM"))
+		(if (string-match "^\\(xterm\\|rxvt\\|dtterm\\|eterm\\)"
+				  term)
+		    (setq frame-background-mode 'light)))
+	      (frame-set-background-mode (selected-frame))))
 
 	;; Now we know the user's default font, so add it to the menu.
 	(if (fboundp 'font-menu-add-default)