diff --git a/core_dsl.go b/core_dsl.go
index a3e8237e9..0adc83579 100644
--- a/core_dsl.go
+++ b/core_dsl.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
@@ -257,6 +258,14 @@ func RunSpecs(t GinkgoTestingT, description string, args ...interface{}) bool {
 	suiteLabels := extractSuiteConfiguration(args)
 
 	var reporter reporters.Reporter
+	reporterConfig := reporterConfig
+	if value, present := os.LookupEnv("GINGKO_COLOR"); present {
+		b, err := strconv.ParseBool(value)
+		if err == nil {
+			reporterConfig.NoColor = !b
+		}
+	}
+
 	if suiteConfig.ParallelTotal == 1 {
 		reporter = reporters.NewDefaultReporter(reporterConfig, formatter.ColorableStdOut)
 		outputInterceptor = internal.NoopOutputInterceptor{}
diff --git a/types/config.go b/types/config.go
index 97a049e0c..40406747a 100644
--- a/types/config.go
+++ b/types/config.go
@@ -115,7 +115,16 @@ func (rc ReporterConfig) WillGenerateReport() bool {
 }
 
 func NewDefaultReporterConfig() ReporterConfig {
-	return ReporterConfig{}
+	c := ReporterConfig{}
+
+	if value, present := os.LookupEnv("GINGKO_COLOR"); present {
+		b, err := strconv.ParseBool(value)
+		if err == nil {
+			c.NoColor = !b
+		}
+	}
+
+	return c
 }
 
 // Configuration for the Ginkgo CLI