diff --git a/tests/test_log.py b/tests/test_log.py
index 55571e5..0dbc4ab 100644
--- a/tests/test_log.py
+++ b/tests/test_log.py
@@ -8,17 +8,17 @@ class TestLog(unittest2.TestCase):
         """test with color output"""
         with OutputIO() as buf:
             with redirect_stdout(buf):
-                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=False, show_debug=False)
+                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=False, show_debug=False, color=True)
                 l.verbose("verbose")
                 l.debug("debug")
 
             with redirect_stdout(buf):
-                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=True, show_debug=True)
+                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=True, show_debug=True, color=True)
                 l.verbose("verbose")
                 l.debug("debug")
 
             with redirect_stderr(buf):
-                l=LogConsole()
+                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=False, show_debug=False, color=True)
                 l.error("error")
 
             print(list(buf.getvalue()))
@@ -27,21 +27,19 @@ class TestLog(unittest2.TestCase):
     def test_nocolor(self):
         """test without color output"""
 
-        zfs_autobackup.LogConsole.colorama=False
-
         with OutputIO() as buf:
             with redirect_stdout(buf):
-                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=False, show_debug=False)
+                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=False, show_debug=False, color=False)
                 l.verbose("verbose")
                 l.debug("debug")
 
             with redirect_stdout(buf):
-                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=True, show_debug=True)
+                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=True, show_debug=True, color=False)
                 l.verbose("verbose")
                 l.debug("debug")
 
             with redirect_stderr(buf):
-                l=LogConsole()
+                l=LogConsole(show_verbose=False, show_debug=False, color=False)
                 l.error("error")
 
             print(list(buf.getvalue()))
diff --git a/zfs_autobackup/LogConsole.py b/zfs_autobackup/LogConsole.py
index a0abd6b..0a72942 100644
--- a/zfs_autobackup/LogConsole.py
+++ b/zfs_autobackup/LogConsole.py
@@ -3,27 +3,29 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 
 import sys
 
-
-colorama = False
-if sys.stdout.isatty():
-    try:
-        import colorama
-    except ImportError:
-        colorama = False
-        pass
-
-
 class LogConsole:
     """Log-class that outputs to console, adding colors if needed"""
 
-    def __init__(self, show_debug=False, show_verbose=False):
+    def __init__(self, show_debug, show_verbose, color):
         self.last_log = ""
         self.show_debug = show_debug
         self.show_verbose = show_verbose
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def error(txt):
-        if colorama:
+        if color:
+            # try to use color, failback if colorama not available
+            self.colorama=False
+            try:
+                import colorama
+                global colorama
+                self.colorama = True
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
+
+        else:
+            self.colorama=False
+
+    def error(self, txt):
+        if self.colorama:
             print(colorama.Fore.RED + colorama.Style.BRIGHT + "! " + txt + colorama.Style.RESET_ALL, file=sys.stderr)
         else:
             print("! " + txt, file=sys.stderr)
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ class LogConsole:
 
     def verbose(self, txt):
         if self.show_verbose:
-            if colorama:
+            if self.colorama:
                 print(colorama.Style.NORMAL + "  " + txt + colorama.Style.RESET_ALL)
             else:
                 print("  " + txt)
@@ -39,7 +41,7 @@ class LogConsole:
 
     def debug(self, txt):
         if self.show_debug:
-            if colorama:
+            if self.colorama:
                 print(colorama.Fore.GREEN + "# " + txt + colorama.Style.RESET_ALL)
             else:
                 print("# " + txt)
diff --git a/zfs_autobackup/ZfsAutobackup.py b/zfs_autobackup/ZfsAutobackup.py
index b384af3..6a60670 100644
--- a/zfs_autobackup/ZfsAutobackup.py
+++ b/zfs_autobackup/ZfsAutobackup.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class ZfsAutobackup:
         if args.destroy_incompatible:
             args.rollback = True
 
-        self.log = LogConsole(show_debug=self.args.debug, show_verbose=self.args.verbose)
+        self.log = LogConsole(show_debug=self.args.debug, show_verbose=self.args.verbose, color=sys.stdout.isatty())
 
         if args.resume:
             self.verbose("NOTE: The --resume option isn't needed anymore (its autodetected now)")