diff --git a/rc/bin/termrc b/rc/bin/termrc
index 5de208a55..07de69b99 100755
--- a/rc/bin/termrc
+++ b/rc/bin/termrc
@@ -92,8 +92,13 @@ if(test -f /dev/mousectl){
 		aux/mouse $mouseport
 		# parse vgasize into fields
 		vgasize=`{echo $vgasize}
-		if(! ~ $"monitor '' && ! ~ `{cat /dev/user} none)
-			aux/vga -l $vgasize
+		@{
+			rfork n
+			if(~ $monitor vesa)
+				aux/realemu
+			if(! ~ $"monitor '')
+				aux/vga -l $vgasize
+		}
 		if(~ $accupoint 1)
 			pipefile -dr /bin/aux/accupoint /dev/mouse
 	}