diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 4d7311de..0e1a34d6 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 byobu (5.50) unreleased; urgency=low
 
-  * UNRELEASED
+  * usr/share/applications/byobu.desktop:
+    - ensure TERM gets full color when launching from desktop
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Sun, 28 Jul 2013 19:51:39 -0500
 
diff --git a/usr/share/applications/byobu.desktop b/usr/share/applications/byobu.desktop
index 29332973..26afbc70 100644
--- a/usr/share/applications/byobu.desktop
+++ b/usr/share/applications/byobu.desktop
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Name=Byobu Terminal
 Comment=Advanced Command Line and Text Window Manager
 Icon=byobu
-Exec=byobu-launcher
+Exec=env TERM=xterm-256color byobu-launcher
 Type=Application
 Terminal=true
 Categories=GNOME;GTK;Utility;