diff --git a/powerline/bindings/zsh/powerline.zsh b/powerline/bindings/zsh/powerline.zsh
index ec4ebab8..6b55f1c3 100644
--- a/powerline/bindings/zsh/powerline.zsh
+++ b/powerline/bindings/zsh/powerline.zsh
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ _powerline_zle_keymap_select() {
 _powerline_add_widget zle-keymap-select _powerline_zle_keymap_select
 _powerline_precmd
 
+if [[ "$POWERLINE_MODE" != vi* ]] ; then
+	export POWERLINE_DEFAULT_MODE="$POWERLINE_MODE"
+fi
+
 trap "_powerline_tmux_set_columns" SIGWINCH
 _powerline_tmux_set_columns
 _powerline_tmux_set_pwd
diff --git a/powerline/segments/shell.py b/powerline/segments/shell.py
index 962a1a26..1245d109 100644
--- a/powerline/segments/shell.py
+++ b/powerline/segments/shell.py
@@ -44,19 +44,22 @@ def last_pipe_status(pl, segment_info):
 
 
 @requires_segment_info
-def mode(pl, segment_info, override={'vicmd': 'COMMND', 'viins': 'INSERT'}, default='main'):
+def mode(pl, segment_info, override={'vicmd': 'COMMND', 'viins': 'INSERT'}, default=None):
 	'''Return the current mode.
 	
 	:param dict override:
 		dict for overriding mode strings.
 	:param str default:
 		If current mode is equal to this string then this segment will not get 
-		displayed.
+		displayed. If not specified the value is taken from 
+		``$POWERLINE_DEFAULT_MODE`` variable. This variable is set by zsh 
+		bindings for any mode that does not start from ``vi``.
 	'''
 	mode = segment_info['mode']
 	if not mode:
 		pl.warn('No or empty POWERLINE_MODE variable')
 		return None
+	default = default or segment_info['environ'].get('POWERLINE_DEFAULT_MODE')
 	if mode == default:
 		return None
 	try: