diff --git a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
index e9b5b65..5f26c7f 100644
--- a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
@@ -2047,7 +2047,7 @@
         }
     }
 
-    if (setupterm(termstr,fd,&err) == ERR) {
+    if (!initialised_setupterm && setupterm(termstr,fd,&err) == ERR) {
         char* s = "setupterm: unknown error";
 
         if (err == 0) {