diff --git a/.vim/vimrc b/.vim/vimrc
index 5702e01..03b94fb 100644
--- a/.vim/vimrc
+++ b/.vim/vimrc
@@ -477,6 +477,9 @@ set smartcase                 " ... unless they contain at least one capital let
 set noscrollbind
 set updatetime=1000
 
+" no background from colorscheme as it messes with background transparency in kitty
+autocmd ColorScheme * highlight Normal ctermbg=NONE guibg=NONE
+set termguicolors
 colo space_vim_theme          " new fav highlighting
 " compensate for lack of theme italics
 for s in ["Comment", "Constant", "Include", "Define", "Macro", "Delimiter", "Debug", "Identifier", "Boolean", "markdownItalic"]
@@ -488,7 +491,6 @@ set mouse=a                   " enable mouse in n,v,i,c,h modes
 
 set laststatus=2              " show powerline status bar
 set t_Co=256
-set notermguicolors
 set gfn=Fira\ Code\ weight=450\ 12
 
 set ballooneval               " vim8+ popups