diff --git a/autoload/airline.vim b/autoload/airline.vim
index 4f04b391..d6bf8edb 100644
--- a/autoload/airline.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline.vim
@@ -149,22 +149,20 @@ function! airline#check_mode(winnr)
   let s:airline_run += 1
 
   let context = s:contexts[a:winnr]
-  let is_term = 0
-  if exists("*term_list")
-    let is_term = index(term_list(), bufnr('')) > -1
-  endif
 
   if get(w:, 'airline_active', 1)
     let l:m = mode()
+    if exists("*term_list") && index(term_list(), bufnr('')) > -1
+      let l:m = "t"
+    endif
     if l:m ==# "i"
       let l:mode = ['insert']
     elseif l:m ==# "R"
       let l:mode = ['replace']
     elseif l:m =~# '\v(v|V||s|S|)'
       let l:mode = ['visual']
-    elseif l:m ==# "t" || is_term
+    elseif l:m ==# "t"
       let l:mode = ['terminal']
-      let l:m = 't'
     else
       let l:mode = ['normal']
     endif