diff --git a/src/fe-text/term.c b/src/fe-text/term.c
index 4600f02e..03fd0ee1 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/term.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/term.c
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ static void read_settings(void)
 	int old_colors = term_use_colors;
 	int old_colors24 = term_use_colors24;
         int old_type = term_type;
+	int old_forced = force_colors;
 
         /* set terminal type */
 	str = settings_get_str("term_charset");
@@ -144,8 +145,14 @@ static void read_settings(void)
                 term_set_input_type(term_type);
 
         /* change color stuff */
-	if (force_colors != settings_get_bool("term_force_colors")) {
+	if (settings_get_bool("term_force_256colors")) {
+		force_colors = 256;
+	}
+	else if (force_colors != settings_get_bool("term_force_colors")) {
 		force_colors = settings_get_bool("term_force_colors");
+	}
+
+	if (old_forced != force_colors) {
 		term_force_colors(force_colors);
 	}
 
@@ -171,7 +178,8 @@ void term_common_init(void)
 #endif
 	settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "colors", TRUE);
 	settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "term_force_colors", FALSE);
-        settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "mirc_blink_fix", FALSE);
+	settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "mirc_blink_fix", FALSE);
+	settings_add_bool("lookandfeel", "term_force_256colors", FALSE);
 
 	force_colors = FALSE;
 	term_use_colors = term_has_colors() && settings_get_bool("colors");
diff --git a/src/fe-text/terminfo-core.c b/src/fe-text/terminfo-core.c
index 9c9179a5..410d6302 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/terminfo-core.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/terminfo-core.c
@@ -454,9 +454,12 @@ void terminfo_setup_colors(TERM_REC *term, int force)
 	unsigned int i, color;
 
 	terminfo_colors_deinit(term);
-
-	if (force && term->TI_setf == NULL && term->TI_setaf == NULL)
+	if (force == 256)
+		term->TI_colors = 256;
+	else if (force && term->TI_setf == NULL && term->TI_setaf == NULL)
 		term->TI_colors = 8;
+	else /* if we turn off force we'll need to restore the real setting */
+		term->TI_colors = term_getnum(tcaps[25]);
 
 	if ((term->TI_setf || term->TI_setaf || force) &&
 	     term->TI_colors > 0) {
@@ -469,8 +472,15 @@ void terminfo_setup_colors(TERM_REC *term, int force)
 		term->TI_colors = 0;
 		term->set_fg = term->set_bg = _ignore_parm;
 	}
-
-	if (term->TI_setaf) {
+	if (force == 256) {
+		/* force 256-color escapes for base colors as well, lets you
+		 * have bold font in konsole without bright.
+		 */
+		for (i = 0; i < term->TI_colors; i++) {
+			color = i < 16 ? ansitab[i] : i;
+			term->TI_fg[i] = g_strdup_printf("\033[38;5;%dm", color);
+		}
+	} else if (term->TI_setaf) {
 		for (i = 0; i < term->TI_colors; i++) {
 			color = i < 16 ? ansitab[i] : i;
 			term->TI_fg[i] = g_strdup(tparm(term->TI_setaf, color, 0));
@@ -482,8 +492,12 @@ void terminfo_setup_colors(TERM_REC *term, int force)
 		for (i = 0; i < 8; i++)
                         term->TI_fg[i] = g_strdup_printf("\033[%dm", 30+ansitab[i]);
 	}
-
-	if (term->TI_setab) {
+	if (force == 256) {
+		for (i = 0; i < term->TI_colors; i++) {
+			color = i < 16 ? ansitab[i] : i;
+			term->TI_bg[i] = g_strdup_printf("\033[48;5;%dm", color);
+		}
+	} else if (term->TI_setab) {
 		for (i = 0; i < term->TI_colors; i++) {
 			color = i < 16 ? ansitab[i] : i;
 			term->TI_bg[i] = g_strdup(tparm(term->TI_setab, color, 0));