diff --git a/kitty/constants.py b/kitty/constants.py
index f68d54be9..3d7a85c58 100644
--- a/kitty/constants.py
+++ b/kitty/constants.py
@@ -27,3 +27,5 @@ def _get_config_dir():
     return ans
 config_dir = _get_config_dir()
 del _get_config_dir
+
+terminfo_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))), 'terminfo')
diff --git a/kitty/utils.py b/kitty/utils.py
index 4aaa3fea5..5247faa8b 100644
--- a/kitty/utils.py
+++ b/kitty/utils.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ from functools import lru_cache
 
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QFontMetrics
 
+from .constants import terminfo_dir
+
 current_font_metrics = cell_width = None
 libc = ctypes.CDLL(None)
 wcwidth_native = libc.wcwidth
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ def fork_child(cmd, cwd, opts):
         os.close(os.open(os.ttyname(1), os.O_RDWR))
         os.environ['TERM'] = opts.term
         os.environ['COLORTERM'] = 'truecolor'
+        os.environ['TERMINFO'] = terminfo_dir
         os.execvp(argv[0], argv)
     else:
         os.close(slave)