diff --git a/src/ChangeLog b/src/ChangeLog
index 23ece8dfed5e208c7b506b0490a7e8c7beff4c15..65cd07df0aeddcfd3b774e33849a096fb380fe59 100644
--- a/src/ChangeLog
+++ b/src/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2011-07-22  Chong Yidong  <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
+
+	* frame.c (Fmodify_frame_parameters): In tty case, update the
+	default face if necessary (Bug#4238).
+
 2011-07-21  Chong Yidong  <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
 
 	* editfns.c (Fstring_to_char): No need to explain what a character
diff --git a/src/frame.c b/src/frame.c
index 635996ca424d964e4921a63b48cf92c6747e9bff..19ce78dfd9c19fc6ee41f0b819fb3fc94284fbe3 100644
--- a/src/frame.c
+++ b/src/frame.c
@@ -2437,11 +2437,9 @@ use is not recommended.  Explicitly check for a frame-parameter instead.  */)
 	  val = values[i];
 	  store_frame_param (f, prop, val);
 
-	  /* Changing the background color might change the background
-	     mode, so that we have to load new defface specs.
-	     Call frame-set-background-mode to do that.  */
-	  if (EQ (prop, Qbackground_color))
-	    call1 (Qframe_set_background_mode, frame);
+	  if (EQ (prop, Qforeground_color)
+	      || EQ (prop, Qbackground_color))
+	    update_face_from_frame_parameter (f, prop, val);
 	}
     }
   return Qnil;