diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 1fcde856..3f758e1b 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ byobu (6.5) unreleased; urgency=medium
   * usr/share/byobu/profiles/bashrc:
     - drop debian chroot from wolfi ps1
     - drastically simplify the conditional logic
+  * usr/bin/byobu-shell.in:
+    - need a -l login shell to source profiles and colorize PS1
 
- -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:22:34 -0600
+ -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:24:53 -0600
 
 byobu (6.4) released; urgency=medium
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu-shell.in b/usr/bin/byobu-shell.in
index bff9ec3e..4610a547 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu-shell.in
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu-shell.in
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ if [ ! -e "$FLAG" ]; then
 	touch "$FLAG"
 fi
 
-[ -n "$SHELL" -a -x "$SHELL" ] && exec "$SHELL" || exec /bin/sh
+# This needs to be a -l login shell, in order to source profiles
+# and colorize the prompt
+[ -n "$SHELL" -a -x "$SHELL" ] && exec "$SHELL" -l || exec /bin/sh -l
 
 # vi: syntax=sh ts=4 noexpandtab