commit - 502911e55442a89602bd5681763f68250bff330b
commit + 580c8bbd4691218849c9a809acaa4c95f65cb846
blob - 693bdbd9a1e18e80d4399aeef8d4728ba90c7f86
blob + 2c972669645e8c2d760989263848c26a93432754
--- config.def.h
+++ config.def.h
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ static char shell[] = "/bin/sh";
 static unsigned int doubleclicktimeout = 300;
 static unsigned int tripleclicktimeout = 600;
 
+/* alt screens */
+static bool allowaltscreen = true;
+
 /* frames per second st should at maximum draw to the screen */
 static unsigned int xfps = 60;
 static unsigned int actionfps = 30;
blob - 1c100c09cb46d8089430c5efacca6954328fd90a
blob + fc7703d28f386b9f4887f1c0e8dd4c4bc0b52667
--- st.1
+++ st.1
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 st \- simple terminal
 .SH SYNOPSIS
 .B st
+.RB [ \-a ]
 .RB [ \-c
 .IR class ]
 .RB [ \-f
@@ -23,6 +24,9 @@ st \- simple terminal
 is a simple terminal emulator.
 .SH OPTIONS
 .TP
+.B \-a
+disable alternate screens in terminal
+.TP
 .BI \-c " class"
 defines the window class (default $TERM).
 .TP
blob - 8b1fc562be94f913df5f0df1b205ea74b8e82310
blob + 18935d4aac0f75133802b3681cfb3848e676b8e6
--- st.c
+++ st.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 #define USAGE \
 	"st " VERSION " (c) 2010-2013 st engineers\n" \
-	"usage: st [-v] [-c class] [-f font] [-g geometry] [-o file]" \
+	"usage: st [-a] [-v] [-c class] [-f font] [-g geometry] [-o file]" \
 	" [-t title] [-w windowid] [-e command ...]\n"
 
 /* XEMBED messages */
@@ -1615,7 +1615,10 @@ tsetmode(bool priv, bool set, int *args, int narg) {
 				break;
 			case 1049: /* = 1047 and 1048 */
 			case 47:
-			case 1047: {
+			case 1047:
+				if (!allowaltscreen)
+					break;
+
 				alt = IS_SET(MODE_ALTSCREEN);
 				if(alt) {
 					tclearregion(0, 0, term.col-1,
@@ -1625,8 +1628,7 @@ tsetmode(bool priv, bool set, int *args, int narg) {
 					tswapscreen();
 				if(*args != 1049)
 					break;
-			}
-				/* pass through */
+				/* FALLTRU */
 			case 1048:
 				tcursor((set) ? CURSOR_SAVE : CURSOR_LOAD);
 				break;
@@ -3316,6 +3318,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 	for(i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		switch(argv[i][0] != '-' || argv[i][2] ? -1 : argv[i][1]) {
+		case 'a':
+			allowaltscreen = false;
+			break;
 		case 'c':
 			if(++i < argc)
 				opt_class = argv[i];