diff --git a/home/default/basic.nix b/home/default/basic.nix
index ffe1ee7..1a926c0 100644
--- a/home/default/basic.nix
+++ b/home/default/basic.nix
@@ -6,4 +6,9 @@
   # Home Manager needs a bit of information about you and the paths it should manage.
   home.username = lib.mkDefault "tb";
   home.homeDirectory = lib.mkDefault "/home/${config.home.username}";
+
+  # Set default terminal environment variable
+  home.sessionVariables = {
+    TERMINAL = lib.mkDefault "urxvt";
+  };
 }
diff --git a/home/develop/emacs/custom.el b/home/develop/emacs/custom.el
index f88d614..5c3b8fc 100644
--- a/home/develop/emacs/custom.el
+++ b/home/develop/emacs/custom.el
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ frame if FRAME is nil, and to 1 if AMT is nil."
   (interactive)
   (if (file-remote-p default-directory)
       (shell)
-    (start-process "terminal" nil "urxvt")))
+    (start-process "terminal" nil (getenv "TERMINAL"))))
 
 ;; -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ;; --- Compilation