diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index c072a482163..907b13db2c4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -65,4 +65,7 @@ if get_option('json-schema-checks')
 endif
 if get_option('kaitai-struct-checks')
   subproject('kaitai-struct-checks')
+
+if get_option('color')
+  add_project_arguments('-DNIX_COLOR', language: ['c', 'cpp'])
 endif
diff --git a/meson.options b/meson.options
index 2739b0c7163..461280a9463 100644
--- a/meson.options
+++ b/meson.options
@@ -41,3 +41,10 @@ option(
   value : true,
   description : 'Check JSON schema validity of schemas and examples (requires jv)',
 )
+
+option(
+  'color',
+  type : 'boolean',
+  value : true,
+  description : 'Output ANSI escape sequences',
+)
diff --git a/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ansicolor.hh b/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ansicolor.hh
index 2f0749e6ad4..e654c1081e1 100644
--- a/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ansicolor.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/include/nix/util/ansicolor.hh
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
+#ifdef NIX_COLOR
 #define ANSI_NORMAL "\e[0m"
 #define ANSI_BOLD "\e[1m"
 #define ANSI_FAINT "\e[2m"
@@ -18,5 +19,17 @@ namespace nix {
 #define ANSI_BLUE "\e[34;1m"
 #define ANSI_MAGENTA "\e[35;1m"
 #define ANSI_CYAN "\e[36;1m"
+#else
+#define ANSI_NORMAL ""
+#define ANSI_BOLD ""
+#define ANSI_FAINT ""
+#define ANSI_ITALIC ""
+#define ANSI_RED ""
+#define ANSI_GREEN ""
+#define ANSI_WARNING ""
+#define ANSI_BLUE ""
+#define ANSI_MAGENTA ""
+#define ANSI_CYAN ""
+#endif
 
 } // namespace nix