diff --git a/toot/console.py b/toot/console.py
index dbb681a..663aab5 100644
--- a/toot/console.py
+++ b/toot/console.py
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ POST_COMMANDS = [
             }),
             (["-v", "--visibility"], {
                 "type": visibility,
-                "default": "public",
+                "default": os.getenv("TOOT_VISIBILITY", "public"),
                 "help": 'post visibility, one of: %s' % ", ".join(VISIBILITY_CHOICES),
             }),
             (["-s", "--sensitive"], {
diff --git a/toot/tui/compose.py b/toot/tui/compose.py
index 44b7e47..9eb742e 100644
--- a/toot/tui/compose.py
+++ b/toot/tui/compose.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import urwid
 import logging
+import os
 
 from .constants import VISIBILITY_OPTIONS
 from .widgets import Button, EditBox
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ class StatusComposer(urwid.Frame):
         self.cw_remove_button = Button("Remove content warning",
             on_press=self.remove_content_warning)
 
-        self.visibility = "public"
+        self.visibility = os.getenv("TOOT_VISIBILITY", "public")
         self.visibility_button = Button("Visibility: {}".format(self.visibility),
             on_press=self.choose_visibility)