diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f1b88b8..a3d670a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ Refer to [https://st.suckless.org/](https://st.suckless.org/) for details on the
 
 ### Changelog:
 
+2026-01-08 - Added the xresources-xdefaults patch
+
 2025-10-28 - Added the selectionbg-alpha patch
 
 2025-02-20 - Added the drag-n-drop and open-selected-text patches
@@ -340,3 +342,6 @@ Refer to [https://st.suckless.org/](https://st.suckless.org/) for details on the
    - [xresources](https://st.suckless.org/patches/xresources/)
       - adds the ability to configure st via Xresources
       - during startup, st will read and apply the resources named in the resources[] array in config.h
+
+   - xresources-xdefaults
+      - allows .Xdefaults to be read as well in addition to the RESOURCE_MANAGER property on the root window
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/patch/xresources.c b/patch/xresources.c
index acdad4d..a294795 100644
--- a/patch/xresources.c
+++ b/patch/xresources.c
@@ -35,6 +35,102 @@ resource_load(XrmDatabase db, char *name, enum resource_type rtype, void *dst)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+#if XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
+/* Returns an XrmDatabase that needs to be freed by the caller. */
+static XrmDatabase
+get_resources(Display *dpy)
+{
+	/*******************************************************************/
+	/*  Adapted from rxvt-unicode-9.31 rxvttoolkit.C get_resources()  */
+	/*******************************************************************/
+	char *homedir = getenv("HOME");
+	char fname[1024];
+
+	char *displayResource, *xe;
+	XrmDatabase rdb1;
+	XrmDatabase database = XrmGetStringDatabase("");
+
+	/* For ordering, see for example http://www.faqs.org/faqs/Xt-FAQ/ Subject: 20 */
+
+	/* 6. System wide per application default file. */
+
+	/* Add in $XAPPLRESDIR/St only; not bothering with XUSERFILESEARCHPATH */
+	if ((xe = getenv("XAPPLRESDIR")) || (xe = "/etc/X11/app-defaults"))
+	{
+		snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "%s/%s", xe, "St");
+
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(fname)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	}
+
+	/* 5. User's per application default file. None. */
+
+	/* 4. User's defaults file. */
+	if (homedir)
+	{
+		snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "%s/.Xdefaults", homedir);
+
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(fname)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	}
+
+	/* Get any Xserver Resources (xrdb). */
+	displayResource = XResourceManagerString(dpy);
+
+	if (displayResource)
+	{
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetStringDatabase(displayResource)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	}
+
+	/* Get screen specific resources. */
+	displayResource = XScreenResourceString(ScreenOfDisplay(dpy, DefaultScreen(dpy)));
+
+	if (displayResource)
+	{
+		if ((rdb1 = XrmGetStringDatabase(displayResource)))
+			XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+
+		XFree(displayResource);
+	}
+
+	/* 3. User's per host defaults file. */
+	/* Add in XENVIRONMENT file */
+	if ((xe = getenv("XENVIRONMENT")) && (rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(xe)))
+		XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+	else if (homedir)
+	{
+		struct utsname un;
+
+		if (!uname(&un))
+		{
+			snprintf(fname, sizeof(fname), "%s/.Xdefaults-%s", homedir, un.nodename);
+
+			if ((rdb1 = XrmGetFileDatabase(fname)))
+				XrmMergeDatabases(rdb1, &database);
+		}
+	}
+
+	return database;
+}
+
+void
+config_init(Display *dpy)
+{
+	XrmDatabase db;
+	ResourcePref *p;
+
+	XrmInitialize();
+	db = get_resources(dpy);
+
+	for (p = resources; p < resources + LEN(resources); p++)
+		resource_load(db, p->name, p->type, p->dst);
+
+	XrmDestroyDatabase(db);
+}
+
+#else // !XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
+
 void
 config_init(Display *dpy)
 {
@@ -43,6 +139,7 @@ config_init(Display *dpy)
 	ResourcePref *p;
 
 	XrmInitialize();
+
 	resm = XResourceManagerString(dpy);
 	if (!resm)
 		return;
@@ -56,6 +153,7 @@ config_init(Display *dpy)
 
 	XrmDestroyDatabase(db);
 }
+#endif // XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
 
 #if XRESOURCES_RELOAD_PATCH
 void
diff --git a/patch/xresources.h b/patch/xresources.h
index c184852..91d5093 100644
--- a/patch/xresources.h
+++ b/patch/xresources.h
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 #include <X11/Xresource.h>
+#if XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
+#include <sys/utsname.h>
+#endif // XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH
 
 /* Xresources preferences */
 enum resource_type {
diff --git a/patches.def.h b/patches.def.h
index 691e45f..7bf33cc 100644
--- a/patches.def.h
+++ b/patches.def.h
@@ -535,3 +535,10 @@
  * Depends on the XRESOURCES_PATCH.
  */
 #define XRESOURCES_RELOAD_PATCH 0
+
+/* This patch adds the ability to configure st via Xdefaults, in addition to Xresources,
+ * like the rxvt-unicode terminal. At startup, st will read and apply the system and user's
+ * local Xdefault files, the XServer's Xresources, and the screen and per-host Xdefaults.
+ * This patch depends on XRESOURCES_PATCH and is compatible with XRESOURCES_RELOAD_PATCH.
+ */
+#define XRESOURCES_XDEFAULTS_PATCH 0