diff --git a/editor.c b/editor.c
index d1ba2d7c34fbf4..e46b5af9ab8236 100644
--- a/editor.c
+++ b/editor.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "strvec.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "sigchain.h"
+#include "compat/terminal.h"
 
 #ifndef DEFAULT_EDITOR
 #define DEFAULT_EDITOR "vi"
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ static int launch_specified_editor(const char *editor, const char *path,
 		return error("Terminal is dumb, but EDITOR unset");
 
 	if (strcmp(editor, ":")) {
+		int save_and_restore_term = !strcmp(editor, "vi") || !strcmp(editor, "vim");
 		struct strbuf realpath = STRBUF_INIT;
 		struct child_process p = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 		int ret, sig;
@@ -90,7 +92,11 @@ static int launch_specified_editor(const char *editor, const char *path,
 			strvec_pushv(&p.env, (const char **)env);
 		p.use_shell = 1;
 		p.trace2_child_class = "editor";
+		if (save_and_restore_term)
+			save_and_restore_term = !save_term(1);
 		if (start_command(&p) < 0) {
+			if (save_and_restore_term)
+				restore_term();
 			strbuf_release(&realpath);
 			return error("unable to start editor '%s'", editor);
 		}
@@ -98,6 +104,8 @@ static int launch_specified_editor(const char *editor, const char *path,
 		sigchain_push(SIGINT, SIG_IGN);
 		sigchain_push(SIGQUIT, SIG_IGN);
 		ret = finish_command(&p);
+		if (save_and_restore_term)
+			restore_term();
 		strbuf_release(&realpath);
 		sig = ret - 128;
 		sigchain_pop(SIGINT);