--- gnome-terminal-2.15.4/src/terminal-window.c
+++ gnome-terminal-2.15.4/src/terminal-window.c
@@ -1428,6 +1428,14 @@
   update_copy_sensitivity (window);
 }
 
+static gboolean
+force_terminal_redraw_callback (gpointer user_data)
+{
+  gtk_widget_queue_draw (GTK_WIDGET (user_data));
+  g_object_unref (user_data);
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
 void
 terminal_window_add_screen (TerminalWindow *window,
                             TerminalScreen *screen)
@@ -1821,6 +1829,11 @@
   /* Make the first-added screen the active one */
   if (window->priv->active_term == NULL)
     terminal_window_set_active (window, screen);
+
+  /* We have to force a redraw in an idle, since sometimes new terminals
+     in new tabs don't seem to get their initial expose events. */
+  g_object_ref (term);
+  g_idle_add (force_terminal_redraw_callback, term);
 }
 
 static void