diff --git a/terminatorlib/cwd.py b/terminatorlib/cwd.py
index b3d39a01..b4c87a9e 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/cwd.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/cwd.py
@@ -5,9 +5,16 @@
 
 import platform
 import os
+import pwd
 from util import dbg
 
-def get_pidcwd():
+def get_default_cwd():
+    """Determine a reasonable default cwd"""
+    cwd = os.getcwd()
+    if not os.path.exists(cwd) or not os.path.isdir(cwd):
+        cwd = pwd.getpwuid(os.getuid())[5]
+
+def get_pid_cwd():
     """Determine an appropriate cwd function for the OS we are running on"""
 
     func = lambda pid: None
diff --git a/terminatorlib/terminal.py b/terminatorlib/terminal.py
index d94ee9cf..a4cfa91d 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/terminal.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/terminal.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 """terminal.py - classes necessary to provide Terminal widgets"""
 
 import sys
-
 import pygtk
 pygtk.require('2.0')
 import gobject
@@ -22,6 +21,8 @@ except ImportError:
     ERROR.run()
     sys.exit(1)
 
+from cwd import get_pid_cwd, get_default_cwd
+
 class Terminal(gtk.VBox):
     """Class implementing the VTE widget and its wrappings"""
 
@@ -32,5 +33,8 @@ class Terminal(gtk.VBox):
         gtk.VBox.__init__(self)
 
         self.vte = vte.Terminal()
+        self.vte.set_size(80, 24)
+        self.vte._expose_data = None
+        self.vte.show()
 
 # vim: set expandtab ts=4 sw=4: