diff --git a/src/cmd/draw/tcolors.c b/src/cmd/draw/tcolors.c
index 9aa4de79..05674947 100644
--- a/src/cmd/draw/tcolors.c
+++ b/src/cmd/draw/tcolors.c
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ dither[16] =  {
 
 extern int chattydrawclient;
 
+int
+threadmaybackground(void)
+{
+	return 1;
+}
+
 void
 threadmain(int argc, char *argv[])
 {