diff --git a/src/nvim/tui/tui.c b/src/nvim/tui/tui.c
index a1b57a932a..1423dee826 100644
--- a/src/nvim/tui/tui.c
+++ b/src/nvim/tui/tui.c
@@ -2270,6 +2270,13 @@ static void patch_terminfo_bugs(TUIData *tui, const char *term, const char *colo
     // 2017-04 terminfo.src has older control sequences.
     terminfo_set_str(tui, kTerm_enter_ca_mode, "\x1b[?1049h");
     terminfo_set_str(tui, kTerm_exit_ca_mode, "\x1b[?1049l");
+    // rxvt-unicode has a default steady block cursor, though there's an option
+    // to initialize it with an underline https://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/src/init.C?revision=1.351&view=markup#l727
+    // \x1b[0 q doesn't work because it makes it a blinking block https://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/src/command.C?revision=1.605&view=markup#l4122
+    // We can't really account for that, so just set it to steady block and hope
+    // for the best.
+    terminfo_set_str(tui, kTerm_reset_cursor_style, "\x1b[2 q");
+    terminfo_set_str(tui, kTerm_set_cursor_style, "\x1b[%p1%d q");
   } else if (screen) {
     // per the screen manual; 2017-04 terminfo.src lacks these.
     terminfo_set_if_empty(tui, kTerm_to_status_line, "\x1b_");
@@ -2369,7 +2376,6 @@ static void patch_terminfo_bugs(TUIData *tui, const char *term, const char *colo
           // https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/screen-devel/2013-03/msg00000.html
           || screen
           || st         // #7641
-          || rxvt       // per command.C
           // https://github.com/gnachman/iTerm2/pull/651
           || iterm || iterm_pretending_xterm
           || teraterm   // per TeraTerm "Supported Control Functions" doco