diff --git a/sys/dev/syscons/scvgarndr.c b/sys/dev/syscons/scvgarndr.c
index aef157f169da..8b098f240e53 100644
--- a/sys/dev/syscons/scvgarndr.c
+++ b/sys/dev/syscons/scvgarndr.c
@@ -356,32 +356,28 @@ vga_flipattr(u_short a, int blink)
 }
 
 static u_short
-vga_cursorattr_adj(u_short a, int blink)
+vga_cursorattr_adj(scr_stat *scp, u_short a, int blink)
 {
-	/*
-	 * !blink means pixel mode, and the cursor attribute in that case
-	 * is simplistic reverse video.
-	 */
-	if (!blink)
-		return (vga_flipattr(a, blink));
+	int i;
+	u_short bg, bgmask, fg, newbg;
 
 	/*
 	 * The cursor attribute is usually that of the underlying char
-	 * with the bg changed to white.  If the bg is already white,
-	 * then the bg is changed to black.  The fg is usually not
-	 * changed, but if it is the same as the new bg then it is
-	 * changed to the inverse of the new bg.
+	 * with only the bg changed, to the first preferred color that
+	 * differs from both the fg and bg.  If there is no such color,
+	 * use reverse video.
 	 */
-	if ((a & 0x7000) == 0x7000) {
-		a &= 0x8f00;
-		if ((a & 0x0700) == 0)
-			a |= 0x0700;
-	} else {
-		a |= 0x7000;
-		if ((a & 0x0700) == 0x0700)
-			a &= 0xf000;
+	bgmask = blink ? 0x7000 : 0xf000;
+	bg = a & bgmask;
+	fg = a & 0x0f00;
+	for (i = 0; i < nitems(scp->curs_attr.bg); i++) {
+		newbg = (scp->curs_attr.bg[i] << 12) & bgmask;
+		if (newbg != bg && newbg != (fg << 4))
+			break;
 	}
-	return (a);
+	if (i == nitems(scp->curs_attr.bg))
+		return (vga_flipattr(a, blink));
+	return (fg | newbg | (blink ? a & 0x8000 : 0));
 }
 
 static void
@@ -522,6 +518,12 @@ draw_txtcharcursor(scr_stat *scp, int at, u_short c, u_short a, int flip)
 			return;
 		if (flip)
 			a = vga_flipattr(a, TRUE);
+		/*
+		 * This clause handles partial-block cursors in text mode.
+		 * We want to change the attribute only under the partial
+		 * block, but in text mode we can only change full blocks.
+		 * Use reverse video instead.
+		 */
 		bcopy(font + c*h, font + sc->cursor_char*h, h);
 		font = font + sc->cursor_char*h;
 		for (i = imax(h - scp->curs_attr.base - scp->curs_attr.height, 0);
@@ -536,7 +538,7 @@ draw_txtcharcursor(scr_stat *scp, int at, u_short c, u_short a, int flip)
 	{
 		if (flip)
 			a = vga_flipattr(a, TRUE);
-		a = vga_cursorattr_adj(a, TRUE);
+		a = vga_cursorattr_adj(scp, a, TRUE);
 		sc_vtb_putc(&scp->scr, at, c, a);
 	}
 }
@@ -1026,7 +1028,7 @@ draw_pxlcursor_direct(scr_stat *scp, int at, int on, int flip)
 	if (flip)
 		a = vga_flipattr(a, FALSE);
 	if (on)
-		a = vga_cursorattr_adj(a, FALSE);
+		a = vga_cursorattr_adj(scp, a, FALSE);
 	col1 = (a & 0x0f00) >> 8;
 	col2 = a >> 12;
 
@@ -1070,7 +1072,7 @@ draw_pxlcursor_planar(scr_stat *scp, int at, int on, int flip)
 	if (flip)
 		a = vga_flipattr(a, FALSE);
 	if (on)
-		a = vga_cursorattr_adj(a, FALSE);
+		a = vga_cursorattr_adj(scp, a, FALSE);
 	col = (a & 0xf000) >> 4;
 	outw(GDCIDX, col | 0x00);	/* set/reset */
 	outw(GDCIDX, 0xff08);		/* bit mask */
@@ -1202,7 +1204,7 @@ draw_pxlmouse_planar(scr_stat *scp, int x, int y)
 	outw(GDCIDX, 0x0003);		/* data rotate/function select */
 	outw(GDCIDX, 0x0f01);		/* set/reset enable */
 
-	outw(GDCIDX, (0 << 8) | 0x00); /* set/reset */
+	outw(GDCIDX, (scp->curs_attr.mouse_ba << 8) | 0x00); /* set/reset */
 	p = scp->sc->adp->va_window + line_width*y + x/8;
 	for (i = y, j = 0; i < ymax; ++i, ++j) {
 		m = mdp->md_border[j] << 8 >> xoff;
@@ -1221,7 +1223,7 @@ draw_pxlmouse_planar(scr_stat *scp, int x, int y)
 		}
 		p += line_width;
 	}
-	outw(GDCIDX, (15 << 8) | 0x00); /* set/reset */
+	outw(GDCIDX, (scp->curs_attr.mouse_ia << 8) | 0x00); /* set/reset */
 	p = scp->sc->adp->va_window + line_width*y + x/8;
 	for (i = y, j = 0; i < ymax; ++i, ++j) {
 		m = mdp->md_interior[j] << 8 >> xoff;
@@ -1325,9 +1327,11 @@ do_on:
 	for (i = 0; i < yend - y; i++, p += line_width)
 		for (j = xend - x - 1; j >= 0; j--)
 			if (mdp->md_interior[i] & (1 << (15 - j)))
-				DRAW_PIXEL(scp, p + j * pixel_size, 15);
+				DRAW_PIXEL(scp, p + j * pixel_size,
+				    scp->curs_attr.mouse_ia);
 			else if (mdp->md_border[i] & (1 << (15 - j)))
-				DRAW_PIXEL(scp, p + j * pixel_size, 0);
+				DRAW_PIXEL(scp, p + j * pixel_size,
+				    scp->curs_attr.mouse_ba);
 }
 
 static void 
diff --git a/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.c b/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.c
index f54b20eed6c9..b6f9cc2e8d99 100644
--- a/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.c
+++ b/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.c
@@ -959,8 +959,16 @@ sctty_ioctl(struct tty *tp, u_long cmd, caddr_t data, struct thread *td)
 	    cap = &scp->dflt_curs_attr;
 	    break;
 	}
-	((int *)data)[1] = cap->base;
-	((int *)data)[2] = cap->height;
+	if (((int *)data)[0] & CONS_CHARCURSOR_COLORS) {
+	    ((int *)data)[1] = cap->bg[0];
+	    ((int *)data)[2] = cap->bg[1];
+	} else if (((int *)data)[0] & CONS_MOUSECURSOR_COLORS) {
+	    ((int *)data)[1] = cap->mouse_ba;
+	    ((int *)data)[2] = cap->mouse_ia;
+	} else {
+	    ((int *)data)[1] = cap->base;
+	    ((int *)data)[2] = cap->height;
+	}
 	((int *)data)[0] = cap->flags;
 	return 0;
 
@@ -3025,8 +3033,12 @@ sc_set_cursor_image(scr_stat *scp)
 static void
 sc_adjust_ca(struct cursor_attr *cap, int flags, int base, int height)
 {
-    if (0) {
-	/* Dummy clause to avoid changing indentation later. */
+    if (flags & CONS_CHARCURSOR_COLORS) {
+	cap->bg[0] = base & 0xff;
+	cap->bg[1] = height & 0xff;
+    } else if (flags & CONS_MOUSECURSOR_COLORS) {
+	cap->mouse_ba = base & 0xff;
+	cap->mouse_ia = height & 0xff;
     } else {
 	if (base >= 0)
 	    cap->base = base;
@@ -3243,8 +3255,14 @@ scinit(int unit, int flags)
 	sc->dflt_curs_attr.base = 0;
 	sc->dflt_curs_attr.height = howmany(scp->font_size, 8);
 	sc->dflt_curs_attr.flags = 0;
+	sc->dflt_curs_attr.bg[0] = FG_RED;
+	sc->dflt_curs_attr.bg[1] = FG_LIGHTGREY;
+	sc->dflt_curs_attr.bg[2] = FG_BLUE;
+	sc->dflt_curs_attr.mouse_ba = FG_WHITE;
+	sc->dflt_curs_attr.mouse_ia = FG_RED;
 	sc->curs_attr = sc->dflt_curs_attr;
 	scp->base_curs_attr = scp->dflt_curs_attr = sc->curs_attr;
+	scp->curs_attr = scp->base_curs_attr;
 
 #ifndef SC_NO_SYSMOUSE
 	sc_mouse_move(scp, scp->xpixel/2, scp->ypixel/2);
diff --git a/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h b/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h
index fc9c8f50b07d..28b362878207 100644
--- a/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h
+++ b/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h
@@ -167,11 +167,14 @@ typedef struct sc_vtb {
 	int		vtb_tail;	/* valid for VTB_RINGBUFFER only */
 } sc_vtb_t;
 
-/* text cursor attributes */
+/* text and some mouse cursor attributes */
 struct cursor_attr {
-	int		flags;
-	int		base;
-	int		height;
+	u_char		flags;
+	u_char		base;
+	u_char		height;
+	u_char		bg[3];
+	u_char		mouse_ba;
+	u_char		mouse_ia;
 };
 
 /* softc */
diff --git a/sys/sys/consio.h b/sys/sys/consio.h
index 8604d4a55a3c..6e5b557c8a23 100644
--- a/sys/sys/consio.h
+++ b/sys/sys/consio.h
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ typedef struct mouse_info mouse_info_t;
 #define CONS_HIDDEN_CURSOR	(1 << 2)
 #define CONS_CURSOR_ATTRS	(CONS_BLINK_CURSOR | CONS_CHAR_CURSOR |	\
 				 CONS_HIDDEN_CURSOR)
+#define CONS_CHARCURSOR_COLORS	(1 << 26)
+#define CONS_MOUSECURSOR_COLORS	(1 << 27)
 #define CONS_DEFAULT_CURSOR	(1 << 28)
 #define CONS_SHAPEONLY_CURSOR	(1 << 29)
 #define CONS_RESET_CURSOR	(1 << 30)
diff --git a/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.1 b/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.1
index 17a1df171e04..4a6497a6e819 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.1
+++ b/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.1
@@ -219,6 +219,50 @@ Set or clear the hidden attribute.
 The following (non-sticky) flags control application of the
 .Cm setting Ns s :
 .Bl -tag -width indent
+.It Cm charcolors
+Apply
+.Cm base
+and
+.Cm height
+to the (character) cursor's list of preferred colors instead of its shape.
+Beware that the color numbers are raw VGA palette indexes,
+not ANSI color numbers.
+The indexes are reduced mod 8, 16 or 256,
+or ignored,
+depending on the video mode and renderer.
+.It Cm mousecolors
+Colors for the mouse cursor in graphics mode.
+Like
+.Cm charcolors ,
+except there is no preference or sequence;
+.Cm base
+gives the mouse border color and
+.Cm height
+gives the mouse interior color.
+Together with
+.Cm charcolors ,
+this gives 2 selection bits which select between
+only 3 of 4 sub-destinations of the 4 destinations selected by
+.Cm default
+and
+.Cm local
+(by ignoring
+.Cm mousecolors
+if
+.Cm charcolors
+is also set).
+.It Cm default
+Apply the changes to the default settings and then to the active settings,
+instead of only to the active settings.
+Together with
+.Cm local ,
+this gives 2 selection bits which select between 4 destinations.
+.It Cm shapeonly
+Ignore any changes to the 
+.Cm block
+and
+.Cm hidden
+attributes.
 .It Cm local
 Apply the changes to the current vty.
 The default is to apply them to a global place
@@ -233,10 +277,8 @@ to default local settings.
 Otherwise, the current global settings are reset to default
 global settings and then copied to the current and default
 settings for all vtys.
-The global defaults are decided (not quite right) at boot time
-and cannot be fixed up.
-The local defaults are obtained as above and cannot be fixed up
-locally.
+.It Cm show
+Show the current changes.
 .El
 .It Fl d
 Print out current output screen map.
diff --git a/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.c b/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.c
index 3d31d20eb7e6..607caf1ac951 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/vidcontrol/vidcontrol.c
@@ -650,10 +650,21 @@ parse_cursor_params(char *param, struct cshape *shape)
 			shape->shape[1] = strtol(word + 5, NULL, 0);
 		else if (strncmp(word, "height=", 7) == 0)
 			shape->shape[2] = strtol(word + 7, NULL, 0);
+		else if (strcmp(word, "charcolors") == 0)
+			type |= CONS_CHARCURSOR_COLORS;
+		else if (strcmp(word, "mousecolors") == 0)
+			type |= CONS_MOUSECURSOR_COLORS;
+		else if (strcmp(word, "default") == 0)
+			type |= CONS_DEFAULT_CURSOR;
+		else if (strcmp(word, "shapeonly") == 0)
+			type |= CONS_SHAPEONLY_CURSOR;
 		else if (strcmp(word, "local") == 0)
 			type |= CONS_LOCAL_CURSOR;
 		else if (strcmp(word, "reset") == 0)
 			type |= CONS_RESET_CURSOR;
+		else if (strcmp(word, "show") == 0)
+			printf("flags %#x, base %d, height %d\n",
+			    type, shape->shape[1], shape->shape[2]);
 		else {
 			revert();
 			errx(1,
@@ -676,11 +687,13 @@ set_cursor_type(char *param)
 {
 	struct cshape shape;
 
-	/* Determine if the new setting is local (default to non-local). */
+	/* Dry run to determine color, default and local flags. */
 	shape.shape[0] = 0;
+	shape.shape[1] = -1;
+	shape.shape[2] = -1;
 	parse_cursor_params(param, &shape);
 
-	/* Get the relevant shape (the local flag is the only input arg). */
+	/* Get the relevant old setting. */
 	if (ioctl(0, CONS_GETCURSORSHAPE, &shape) != 0) {
 		revert();
 		err(1, "ioctl(CONS_GETCURSORSHAPE)");