diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3993533..6059e54 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ The command-line interface is straightforward as reflected in the output from
       -L, --list-devices          List available serial devices
       -l, --log <filename>        Log to file
       -m, --map <flags>           Map special characters
-      -c, --color <0..255>        Colorize tio text (default: 15)
+      -c, --color <0..255>        Colorize tio text
       -v, --version               Display version
       -h, --help                  Display help
 
diff --git a/man/tio.1.in b/man/tio.1.in
index d798cb9..7ff3825 100644
--- a/man/tio.1.in
+++ b/man/tio.1.in
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ If defining more than one flag, the flags must be comma separated.
 .TP
 .BR \-c ", " "\-\-color " \fI<0..255>
 
-Colorize tio text using ANSI color code (default: 15).
+Colorize tio text using ANSI color code.
 
 If color code is negative a list of available ANSI colors will be printed.
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index ea68531..d7c2e47 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (option.log)
         log_open(option.log_filename);
 
-    /* Enable color printing */
-    print_set_color_mode(true);
+    /* Enable ANSI text formatting (colors etc.) */
+    print_enable_ansi_formatting();
 
     /* Print launch hints */
     tio_printf("tio v%s", VERSION);
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index f50d974..160faea 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ struct option_t option =
     .list_devices = false,
     .log_filename = "",
     .map = "",
-    .color = 15,
+    .color = -1,
 };
 
 void print_help(char *argv[])
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void print_help(char *argv[])
     printf("  -L, --list-devices          List available serial devices\n");
     printf("  -l, --log <filename>        Log to file\n");
     printf("  -m, --map <flags>           Map special characters\n");
-    printf("  -c, --color <0..255>        Colorize tio text (default: 15)\n");
+    printf("  -c, --color <0..255>        Colorize tio text\n");
     printf("  -v, --version               Display version\n");
     printf("  -h, --help                  Display help\n");
     printf("\n");
diff --git a/src/print.c b/src/print.c
index e55071f..cef23b5 100644
--- a/src/print.c
+++ b/src/print.c
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@
 #include "print.h"
 
 bool print_tainted = false;
-bool print_color_mode = false;
-char print_color[20];
+char ansi_format[30];
 
 void print_hex(char c)
 {
@@ -48,8 +47,16 @@ void print_normal(char c)
   fflush(stdout);
 }
 
-void print_set_color_mode(bool mode)
+void print_enable_ansi_formatting()
 {
-  print_color_mode = mode;
-  sprintf(print_color, "\e[1;38;5;%dm", option.color);
+  if (option.color < 0)
+  {
+    // Enable bold text
+    sprintf(ansi_format, "\e[1m");
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    // Enable bold text with user defined ANSI color
+    sprintf(ansi_format, "\e[1;38;5;%dm", option.color);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/print.h b/src/print.h
index a59b182..96774a0 100644
--- a/src/print.h
+++ b/src/print.h
@@ -26,32 +26,25 @@
 #include "error.h"
 
 extern bool print_tainted;
-extern bool print_color_mode;
-extern char print_color[];
+extern char ansi_format[];
 
-#define ANSI_COLOR_RESET     "\e[0m"
+#define ANSI_RESET "\e[0m"
 
-#define color_printf(format, args...) \
+#define ansi_printf(format, args...) \
 { \
-  if (print_color_mode) \
-    fprintf (stdout, "\r%s" format ANSI_COLOR_RESET "\r\n", print_color, ## args); \
-  else \
-    fprintf (stdout, "\r" format "\r\n", ## args); \
+  fprintf (stdout, "\r%s" format ANSI_RESET "\r\n", ansi_format, ## args); \
   fflush(stdout); \
 }
 
-#define color_printf_raw(format, args...) \
+#define ansi_printf_raw(format, args...) \
 { \
-  if (print_color_mode) \
-    fprintf (stdout, "%s" format ANSI_COLOR_RESET, print_color, ## args); \
-  else \
-    fprintf (stdout, format, ## args); \
+  fprintf (stdout, "%s" format ANSI_RESET, ansi_format, ## args); \
   fflush(stdout); \
 }
 
 #define warning_printf(format, args...) \
 { \
-  color_printf("[%s] Warning: " format, current_time(), ## args); \
+  ansi_printf("[%s] Warning: " format, current_time(), ## args); \
   fflush(stdout); \
 }
 
@@ -59,7 +52,7 @@ extern char print_color[];
 { \
   if (print_tainted) \
     putchar('\n'); \
-  color_printf("[%s] " format, current_time(), ## args); \
+  ansi_printf("[%s] " format, current_time(), ## args); \
   print_tainted = false; \
 }
 
@@ -81,4 +74,4 @@ extern char print_color[];
 
 void print_hex(char c);
 void print_normal(char c);
-void print_set_color_mode(bool mode);
+void print_enable_ansi_formatting(void);
diff --git a/src/tty.c b/src/tty.c
index 3dcb831..afeabaf 100644
--- a/src/tty.c
+++ b/src/tty.c
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ int tty_connect(void)
                         now = current_time();
                         if (now)
                         {
-                            color_printf_raw("[%s] ", now);
+                            ansi_printf_raw("[%s] ", now);
                             if (option.log)
                             {
                                 log_write('[');