diff --git a/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el b/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el
index d3b36d73a..2ea2f3c6c 100644
--- a/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el
+++ b/modules/tools/vterm/autoload.el
@@ -7,11 +7,15 @@ non-nil, cd into the current project's root."
   (interactive "P")
   (unless (fboundp 'module-load)
     (user-error "Your build of Emacs lacks dynamic modules support and cannot load vterm"))
+  ;; This hack forces vterm to redraw, fixing strange artefacting in the tty.
+  ;; Don't ask me why it works.
+  (save-window-excursion
+    (pop-to-buffer "*scratch*"))
   (let ((default-directory
           (if arg
               (or (doom-project-root) default-directory)
             default-directory)))
-    (switch-to-buffer (save-window-excursion (vterm)))))
+    (vterm)))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun +vterm/open-popup (arg)
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ non-nil, cd into the current project's root."
           (if arg
               (or (doom-project-root) default-directory)
             default-directory)))
-    (pop-to-buffer (save-window-excursion (vterm)))))
+    (vterm-other-window)))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun +vterm/open-popup-in-project ()
diff --git a/modules/tools/vterm/config.el b/modules/tools/vterm/config.el
index 1c0514137..3323f6574 100644
--- a/modules/tools/vterm/config.el
+++ b/modules/tools/vterm/config.el
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@
   (add-hook 'vterm-mode-hook #'doom|mark-buffer-as-real)
   ;; Automatically kill buffer when vterm exits.
   (add-to-list 'vterm-exit-functions (lambda (buffer) (if buffer (kill-buffer buffer))))
+  ;; Modeline serves no purpose in vterm
+  (add-hook 'vterm-mode-hook #'hide-mode-line-mode)
+  ;; Don't prompt about processes when killing vterm
+  (setq-hook! 'vterm-mode-hook confirm-kill-processes nil)
 
   (when (featurep! :editor evil)
     (evil-set-initial-state 'vterm-mode 'insert)
diff --git a/modules/ui/doom/config.el b/modules/ui/doom/config.el
index 26082e7e8..7b5c9c980 100644
--- a/modules/ui/doom/config.el
+++ b/modules/ui/doom/config.el
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@
   (defun +doom|solaire-mode-swap-bg-maybe ()
     (when-let* ((rule (assq doom-theme +doom-solaire-themes)))
       (require 'solaire-mode)
-      (if (cdr rule) (solaire-mode-swap-bg))))
+      (when (cdr rule)
+        (solaire-mode-swap-bg)
+        (with-eval-after-load 'ansi-color
+          (when-let* ((color (face-background 'default)))
+            (setf (aref ansi-color-names-vector 0) color))))))
   (add-hook 'doom-load-theme-hook #'+doom|solaire-mode-swap-bg-maybe t)
   :config
   ;; fringe can become unstyled when deleting or focusing frames