diff --git a/tools/run_tests.sh b/tools/run_tests.sh
index f86289ad..910231e8 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests.sh
+++ b/tools/run_tests.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 objdir=$1
 srcdir=$2
 
+[ -z "$TERM" ] && TERM=xterm
+tput init
+
 # see if it supports colors...
 ncolors=$(tput colors)