diff --git a/autoload/airline/init.vim b/autoload/airline/init.vim
index 43405bfb..b42fb860 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/init.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/init.vim
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ function! airline#init#bootstrap()
 endfunction
 
 function! airline#init#gui_mode()
-  return ((has('nvim') && exists('$NVIM_TUI_ENABLE_TRUE_COLOR'))
+  return ((has('nvim') && exists('$NVIM_TUI_ENABLE_TRUE_COLOR') && !exists("+termguicolors"))
         \ || has('gui_running') || (has("termtruecolor") && &guicolors == 1) || (has("termguicolors") && &termguicolors == 1)) ?
         \ 'gui' : 'cterm'
 endfunction