diff --git a/src/gui/shell.cpp b/src/gui/shell.cpp
index 19a602226..9886029f8 100644
--- a/src/gui/shell.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/shell.cpp
@@ -368,6 +368,15 @@ void Shell::init()
 
 	// Set initial value
 	m_nvim->api0()->vim_set_var("GuiWindowFrameless", (windowFlags() & Qt::FramelessWindowHint) ? 1: 0);
+
+	// Make the shell visible even when default_colors_set is not received,
+	// e.g. when using the deprecated cell-based grid protocol.
+	QTimer::singleShot(300, [&]() {
+		if (!m_shown) {
+			setVisible(true);
+			m_shown = true;
+		}
+	});
 }
 
 void Shell::neovimError(NeovimConnector::NeovimError err)