diff --git a/contrib/init.d/rc.debian.asterisk b/contrib/init.d/rc.debian.asterisk
index 2a64428526..5b85b076f1 100755
--- a/contrib/init.d/rc.debian.asterisk
+++ b/contrib/init.d/rc.debian.asterisk
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ TRUE=/bin/true
 #AST_USER="asterisk"
 #AST_GROUP="asterisk"
 
+# If you DON'T want Asterisk to start up with terminal colors, comment
+# this out.
+COLOR=yes
+
 set -e
 
 if ! [ -x $DAEMON ] ; then
@@ -68,7 +72,12 @@ case "$1" in
                 ASTARGS="$ASTARGS -G $AST_GROUP"
         fi
 	# "start-stop-daemon --oknodo" returns 0 even if Asterisk was already running (as LSB expects):
-	start-stop-daemon --start --oknodo --exec $DAEMON -- $ASTARGS
+	if test "x$COLOR" = "xyes" ; then
+		export TERM=linux
+		start-stop-daemon --start --oknodo --background --exec $DAEMON -- $ASTARGS -c
+	else
+		start-stop-daemon --start --oknodo --exec $DAEMON -- $ASTARGS
+	fi
 	log_end_msg $?
 	;;
   stop)