diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 018649b4..4b40e1a0 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 byobu (5.13) unreleased; urgency=low
 
   * usr/lib/byobu/include/mondrian:
-    - simply and speed up using perl
+    - simply speed up using perl
+  * usr/bin/byobu: LP: #937175
+    - check tput for 256 color support before defaulting to that in tmux mode
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:58:36 -0600
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu b/usr/bin/byobu
index e1d981e8..d9e1ac6d 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu
@@ -93,8 +93,12 @@ fi
 
 case $BYOBU_BACKEND in
 	tmux)
-		# Use 256 colors, unless the user has overridden
-		[ -z "$SCREEN_TERM" ] && SCREEN_TERM="-2"
+		# Use 256 colors if possible
+		if command -v tput >/dev/null; then
+			if [ "$(tput colors 2>/dev/null || echo 0)" = "256" ]; then
+				[ -z "$SCREEN_TERM" ] && SCREEN_TERM="-2"
+			fi
+		fi
 		PROFILE="-f $BYOBU_PREFIX/share/$PKG/profiles/tmuxrc"
 		sessions=$($BYOBU_BACKEND list-sessions 2>/dev/null) || true
 	;;