diff -ruN a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
--- a/config.def.h	2026-05-20 12:14:52.639963552 +0200
+++ b/config.def.h	2026-05-20 12:14:52.639963552 +0200
@@ -9,3 +9,8 @@
  * Override per-run with --no-persist.
  */
 static const int ALERT_PERSIST = 1;
+
+/* reverse-video flash during the alert loop.
+ * Override per-run with --flash on|off.
+ */
+static const int FLASH = 1;
diff -ruN a/ttym.c b/ttym.c
--- a/ttym.c	2026-05-20 12:14:52.639963552 +0200
+++ b/ttym.c	2026-05-20 12:17:37.203364538 +0200
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <strings.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <termios.h>
 #include <time.h>
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
 	int quiet;            /* -q: suppress completion bell */
 	int silent;           /* -s: no bell, no extras */
 	int alert_persist;    /* alert loop until keypress; --no-persist disables */
+	int flash;            /* reverse-video flash during alert loop */
 } Config;
 
 static struct termios oldtios;
@@ -81,6 +83,13 @@
 	interrupted = 1;
 }
 
+static int
+parse_bool_str(const char *v)
+{
+	return !strcasecmp(v, "true") || !strcasecmp(v, "yes") ||
+	       !strcmp(v, "1")        || !strcasecmp(v, "on");
+}
+
 static void
 restore_tty(void)
 {
@@ -88,7 +97,7 @@
 		tcsetattr(ttyfd, TCSANOW, &oldtios);
 	rawset = 0;
 	if (out_tty)
-		fputs("\033[?7h\033[?25h", stdout);  /* re-enable wrap, show cursor */
+		fputs("\033[?5l\033[?7h\033[?25h", stdout);  /* clear reverse, re-enable wrap, show cursor */
 	fputc('\n', stdout);
 	fflush(stdout);
 }
@@ -241,14 +250,17 @@
 }
 
 static void
-alert_loop(void)
+alert_loop(int flash)
 {
 	fputs("\033[?25h\033[?7h", stdout);
 	int ticks = 0;
 	while (!interrupted) {
 		fputc('\a', stdout);
+		if (flash) fputs("\033[?5h", stdout);
 		fflush(stdout);
 		sleep_ms(150);
+		if (flash) fputs("\033[?5l", stdout);
+		fflush(stdout);
 
 		int acked = 0;
 		for (int i = 0; i < 15 && !interrupted; i++) {
@@ -287,6 +299,7 @@
 "  -q              no sound\n"
 "  -s              silent\n"
 "  --no-persist    skip alert-until-keypress loop\n"
+"  --flash on|off  terminal flash during alert loop\n"
 "  --              end of options\n"
 "  -h              help\n"
 "\n"
@@ -421,7 +434,7 @@
 		}
 		if (!cfg->silent && cfg->alert_persist && is_foreground()) {
 			interrupted = 0;
-			alert_loop();
+			alert_loop(cfg->flash);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -436,6 +449,7 @@
 {
 	Config cfg = {0};
 	cfg.alert_persist = ALERT_PERSIST;
+	cfg.flash         = FLASH;
 
 	/* Pre-strip long-form flags before getopt. Stop at "--". */
 	int new_argc = 0;
@@ -452,6 +466,14 @@
 			cfg.alert_persist = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
+		if (!past_dd && !strncmp(argv[i], "--flash=", 8)) {
+			cfg.flash = parse_bool_str(argv[i] + 8);
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (!past_dd && !strcmp(argv[i], "--flash") && i + 1 < argc) {
+			cfg.flash = parse_bool_str(argv[++i]);
+			continue;
+		}
 		new_argv[new_argc++] = argv[i];
 	}
 	new_argv[new_argc] = NULL;