diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index f026abd..16d9103 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func main() {
 	case "auto", "":
 		// do nothing
 	default:
-		log.Fatal("unsupported color mode: use always, never, auto")
+		log.Fatalf("unsupported color mode: %s. Expected always, auto, or never", colorMode)
 	}
 
 	if showVersion {
diff --git a/runner/config.go b/runner/config.go
index 583c018..9ebe24e 100644
--- a/runner/config.go
+++ b/runner/config.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"dario.cat/mergo"
+	"github.com/fatih/color"
 	"github.com/pelletier/go-toml"
 )
 
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ type cfgColor struct {
 	Watcher string `toml:"watcher" usage:"Customize watcher part's color"`
 	Build   string `toml:"build" usage:"Customize build part's color"`
 	Runner  string `toml:"runner" usage:"Customize runner part's color"`
+	Mode    string `toml:"mode" usage:"Colorized output mode, one of always, auto, or never. Defaults to auto"`
 	App     string `toml:"app"`
 }
 
@@ -625,6 +627,19 @@ func (c *Config) preprocess(args map[string]TomlInfo) error {
 	}
 
 	c.Build.ExcludeDir = ed
+
+	// Set colorful output, see https://github.com/fatih/color#disableenable-color
+	switch c.Color.Mode {
+	case "always":
+		color.NoColor = false
+	case "never":
+		color.NoColor = true
+	case "auto", "":
+		break
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported color mode: %s. Expected always, auto, or never", c.Color.Mode)
+	}
+
 	if len(c.Build.FullBin) > 0 {
 		c.Build.Bin = c.Build.FullBin
 		return err
diff --git a/runner/config_test.go b/runner/config_test.go
index 2d5d5fe..267e592 100644
--- a/runner/config_test.go
+++ b/runner/config_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/fatih/color"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -1119,3 +1121,63 @@ cmd = "go build -o ./tmp/main ."
 		}
 	})
 }
+
+func TestColorMode(t *testing.T) {
+	// Save and restore the global NoColor state so tests don't bleed into each other.
+	original := color.NoColor
+	t.Cleanup(func() { color.NoColor = original })
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		name        string
+		mode        string
+		wantNoColor bool
+		wantErr     bool
+	}{
+		{name: "always enables color", mode: "always", wantNoColor: false},
+		{name: "never disables color", mode: "never", wantNoColor: true},
+		{name: "auto leaves default", mode: "auto", wantNoColor: original},
+		{name: "empty leaves default", mode: "", wantNoColor: original},
+		{name: "invalid returns error", mode: "rainbow", wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			color.NoColor = original
+			cfg := defaultConfig()
+			cfg.Color.Mode = tc.mode
+			err := cfg.preprocess(nil)
+			if tc.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+				}
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unsupported color mode") {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected error message: %v", err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+			if color.NoColor != tc.wantNoColor {
+				t.Fatalf("color.NoColor = %v, want %v", color.NoColor, tc.wantNoColor)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestColorModeWithFullBin(t *testing.T) {
+	// Regression: color mode must be applied even when build.full_bin is set,
+	// because preprocess returns early after FullBin is processed.
+	original := color.NoColor
+	t.Cleanup(func() { color.NoColor = original })
+
+	cfg := defaultConfig()
+	cfg.Build.FullBin = "./tmp/main"
+	cfg.Color.Mode = "never"
+	if err := cfg.preprocess(nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !color.NoColor {
+		t.Fatal("color.NoColor should be true when mode=never and full_bin is set")
+	}
+}