diff --git a/home/zshrc b/home/zshrc
index 6869777..1b89df9 100644
--- a/home/zshrc
+++ b/home/zshrc
@@ -167,15 +167,30 @@ if [[ "$TERM" = xterm* ]]; then
     precmd() { print -Pn "\e]2;%M: %~\a" }
 fi
 
-# note: zsh adds a % symbol to newline-less output, so bash prompt is overkill
 function {
-    local good='green'
-    [[ "$host" == neobanshee ]] && good='cyan'
-    [[ "$host" == spectre ]] && good='white'
-    [[ "$host" == wraith ]] && good='yellow'
-    [[ "$host" == sabotage ]] && good='magenta'
-    PROMPT='%{'$'\e''[10m%}%b%(?.%K{'"$good"'}.%K{red})%15F%#%f%k '
-    RPROMPT='%8F%h%b'
+    if [[ "$TERM" != xterm* ]] && [[ "$TERM" != screen* ]]; then
+        PROMPT="%# "
+        unset RPROMPT
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # zsh adds a % symbol to newline-less output, so my bash prompt is overkill
+    # NOTE: i've started hardcoding escapes instead of relying on zsh
+    #       because detecting terminal features is too troublesome.
+    local s=$'\x1B\x5B' # start escape code
+    local e=m           #   end escape code
+    local reset="${s}0${e}"
+    local good=42 # green
+    local  bad=41 # red
+
+    [[ "$host" == neobanshee ]] && good=46 # cyan
+    [[ "$host" == spectre ]]    && good=47 # white
+    [[ "$host" == wraith ]]     && good=43 # yellow
+    [[ "$host" == sabotage ]]   && good=45 # magenta
+
+    # NOTE: i had ${s}10${e} here before, is it still necessary?
+    PROMPT="%{$reset${s}%(?.${good}.${bad})${e}${s}97${e}%}%#%{$reset%} "
+    RPROMPT="%{${s}90${e}%}%h%{$reset%}"
 }
 
 TIMEFMT=$'\e[93m%*U/%*E cpu/real (%P), %MM mem:\e[36m %J\e[0m'