diff --git a/.screenrc b/.screenrc
index 00545cfa00e..a4a33ba125b 100644
--- a/.screenrc
+++ b/.screenrc
@@ -1,2 +1,8 @@
 # Disable the startup message
 startup_message off
+
+# Set a large scrollback buffer
+defscrollback 32000
+
+# Always start `screen` with UTF-8 enabled (`screen -U`)
+defutf8 on