diff --git a/usr.bin/talk/init_disp.c b/usr.bin/talk/init_disp.c
index 48c26140bf6f..7eded28f2183 100644
--- a/usr.bin/talk/init_disp.c
+++ b/usr.bin/talk/init_disp.c
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ init_display()
 	my_win.x_nlines = LINES / 2;
 	my_win.x_ncols = COLS;
 	my_win.x_win = newwin(my_win.x_nlines, my_win.x_ncols, 0, 0);
+	idlok(my_win.x_win, TRUE);
 	scrollok(my_win.x_win, TRUE);
 	wclear(my_win.x_win);
 
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ init_display()
 	his_win.x_ncols = COLS;
 	his_win.x_win = newwin(his_win.x_nlines, his_win.x_ncols,
 	    my_win.x_nlines+1, 0);
+	idlok(my_win.x_win, TRUE);
 	scrollok(his_win.x_win, TRUE);
 	wclear(his_win.x_win);