diff --git a/cal.c b/cal.c
index 740dc02..98e98a5 100644
--- a/cal.c
+++ b/cal.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <time.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
 
 #include "util.h"
 
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ enum { JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC };
 enum caltype { JULIAN, GREGORIAN };
 enum { TRANS_YEAR = 1752, TRANS_MONTH = SEP, TRANS_DAY = 2 };
 
+static struct tm *ltime;
+
 static int
 isleap(size_t year, enum caltype cal)
 {
@@ -73,7 +76,10 @@ printgrid(size_t year, int month, int fday, int line)
 			dom += 11;
 	}
 	for (; d < 7 && dom <= monthlength(year, month, cal); ++d, ++dom) {
-		printf("%2d ", dom);
+		if (ltime && month == ltime->tm_mon && dom == ltime->tm_mday)
+			printf("\x1b[7m%2d\x1b[0m ", dom); /* highlight today's date */
+		else
+			printf("%2d ", dom);
 		if (trans && dom == TRANS_DAY)
 			dom += 11;
 	}
@@ -136,7 +142,6 @@ usage(void)
 int
 main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-	struct tm *ltime;
 	time_t now;
 	size_t year, ncols, nmons;
 	int fday, month;
@@ -147,6 +152,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	month = ltime->tm_mon + 1;
 	fday  = 0;
 
+	if (!isatty(STDOUT_FILENO))
+		ltime = NULL; /* don't highlight today's date */
+
 	ncols = 3;
 	nmons = 0;