diff --git a/src/xterm.css b/src/xterm.css
index 5a325ed..1f49d69 100644
--- a/src/xterm.css
+++ b/src/xterm.css
@@ -57,6 +57,21 @@
     background-color: transparent;
 }
 
+.terminal .terminal-cursor.blinking {
+    animation: blink-cursor 1.2s infinite step-end;
+}
+
+@keyframes blink-cursor {
+    0% {
+        background-color: #fff;
+        color: #000;
+    }
+    50% {
+        background-color: transparent;
+        color: #FFF;
+    }
+}
+
 /*
  *  Determine default colors for xterm.js
  */
diff --git a/src/xterm.js b/src/xterm.js
index 1ac384c..a11c81e 100644
--- a/src/xterm.js
+++ b/src/xterm.js
@@ -765,9 +765,6 @@
       // Ensure there is a Terminal.focus.
       this.focus();
 
-      // Start blinking the cursor.
-      this.startBlink();
-
       on(this.element, 'mouseup', function() {
         var selection = document.getSelection(),
             collapsed = selection.isCollapsed,
@@ -1250,7 +1247,11 @@
             }
             if (data !== this.defAttr) {
               if (data === -1) {
-                out += '<span class="reverse-video terminal-cursor">';
+                out += '<span class="reverse-video terminal-cursor';
+                if (this.cursorBlink) {
+                  out += ' blinking';
+                }
+                out += '">';
               } else {
                 var classNames = [];
 
@@ -1363,32 +1364,13 @@
       this.emit('refresh', {element: this.element, start: start, end: end});
     };
 
-    Terminal.prototype._cursorBlink = function() {
-      if (document.activeElement !== this.element) return;
-      this.cursorState ^= 1;
-      this.refresh(this.y, this.y);
-    };
-
     Terminal.prototype.showCursor = function() {
       if (!this.cursorState) {
         this.cursorState = 1;
         this.refresh(this.y, this.y);
-      } else {
-        this.refreshBlink();
       }
     };
 
-    Terminal.prototype.startBlink = function() {
-      if (!this.cursorBlink) return;
-      this._blink = setInterval(this._cursorBlink.bind(this), 500);
-    };
-
-    Terminal.prototype.refreshBlink = function() {
-      if (!this.cursorBlink) return;
-      clearInterval(this._blink);
-      this._blink = setInterval(this._cursorBlink.bind(this), 500);
-    };
-
     Terminal.prototype.scroll = function() {
       var row;