diff --git a/src/Terminal.ts b/src/Terminal.ts
index ba1fff3d..05781b96 100644
--- a/src/Terminal.ts
+++ b/src/Terminal.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ const DEFAULT_OPTIONS: ITerminalOptions = {
   cursorStyle: 'block',
   bellSound: DEFAULT_BELL_SOUND,
   bellStyle: 'none',
+  drawBoldTextInBrightColors: true,
   enableBold: true,
   fontFamily: 'courier-new, courier, monospace',
   fontSize: 15,
diff --git a/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts b/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
index f80c6df0..ca848b73 100644
--- a/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
     const isBasicColor = fg < 16;
     const isDefaultColor = fg >= 256;
     const isDefaultBackground = bg >= 256;
-    const drawInBrightColor = (terminal.options.drawBoldTextInBrightColors !== false && bold && fg < 8);
+    const drawInBrightColor = (terminal.options.drawBoldTextInBrightColors && bold && fg < 8);
     if (this._charAtlas && isAscii && (isBasicColor || isDefaultColor) && isDefaultBackground && !italic) {
       let colorIndex: number;
       if (isDefaultColor) {