diff --git a/vimrc b/vimrc
index adc7c57..444d9f9 100644
--- a/vimrc
+++ b/vimrc
@@ -147,12 +147,14 @@ let g:syntastic_check_on_open = 1
 let g:syntastic_check_on_wq = 0
 
 " Change mode cursor color in xterm
+" Avoid spawning shell (silent !echo) which causes garbage output in some terminals.
+" t_EI is sent on VimEnter automatically when leaving insert mode context.
 if &term =~ "xterm-256color\\|rxvt"
   let &t_SI = "\033]Pl00d7ff\033\\"
   let &t_SR = "\033]Plf00000\033\\"
   let &t_EI = "\033]Plff8708\033\\"
-  silent !echo -ne "\033]Pla0522d\033\\"
-  autocmd VimLeave * silent !echo -ne "\033]Plc1ffc1\033\\"
+  autocmd VimEnter * let &t_EI = "\033]Plff8708\033\\" | redraw
+  autocmd VimLeave * call writefile(["\033]Plc1ffc1\033\\"], '/dev/tty')
 endif
 
 " Show tabs and trails