diff --git a/.tmux.conf b/.tmux.conf
index 3378a70..0d2a77e 100644
--- a/.tmux.conf
+++ b/.tmux.conf
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 # use vim copy/paste keybindings
 setw -g mode-keys vi
 
-set -g default-terminal "xterm-256color"
-set -ga terminal-overrides ",xterm-256color:Tc"
+# this should correspond to $TERM set in the terminal
+set -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
+set -ga terminal-overrides ",tmux-256color:RGB"
 
 set -g default-shell /bin/bash