diff --git a/core/core-ui.el b/core/core-ui.el
index 655c4ffb1..115ac947b 100644
--- a/core/core-ui.el
+++ b/core/core-ui.el
@@ -58,6 +58,15 @@
        (y-or-n-p "››› Quit?")
      t)))
 
+;; A subtle bell: flash the mode-line
+;; TODO More flexible colors (only suits dark themes)
+(setq ring-bell-function
+      (lambda ()
+        (let ((bg (face-attribute 'mode-line :background)))
+          (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :background "#54252c")
+          (run-with-timer 0.1 nil `(lambda () (set-face-attribute 'mode-line nil :background ,bg))))))
+
+
 ;; y/n instead of yes/no
 (fset 'yes-or-no-p 'y-or-n-p)
 
diff --git a/core/core.el b/core/core.el
index 039cb2750..c4fcaeab5 100644
--- a/core/core.el
+++ b/core/core.el
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ major-modes, the process gets killed.")
       enable-recursive-minibuffers       nil         ; no minibufferception
       idle-update-delay                  5           ; update a little less often
       major-mode                        'text-mode
-      ring-bell-function                'ignore      ; silence of the bells!
       save-interprogram-paste-before-kill nil
       sentence-end-double-space          nil
       ;; http://ergoemacs.org/emacs/emacs_stop_cursor_enter_prompt.html