diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index d20c4b0..d9202c2 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -837,8 +837,11 @@
 
     starttermcap();	    /* start termcap if not done by wait_return() */
     TIME_MSG("start termcap");
-#if defined(FEAT_TERMRESPONSE) && defined(FEAT_MBYTE)
+#if defined(FEAT_TERMRESPONSE)
+# if defined(FEAT_MBYTE)
     may_req_ambiguous_char_width();
+# endif
+    may_req_bg_color();
 #endif
 
 #ifdef FEAT_MOUSE