diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c02a238..a7a29cf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ The command-line interface is straightforward as reflected in the output from
         --log-file <filename>              Set log filename
         --log-strip                        Strip control characters and escape sequences
     -m, --map <flags>                      Map characters
-    -c, --color 0..255|none|list           Colorize tio text (default: 15)
+    -c, --color 0..255|bold|none|list      Colorize tio text (default: bold)
     -S, --socket <socket>                  Redirect I/O to file or network socket
     -x, --hexadecimal                      Enable hexadecimal mode
     -v, --version                          Display version
diff --git a/man/tio.1.in b/man/tio.1.in
index 1b8514a..f1e97c4 100644
--- a/man/tio.1.in
+++ b/man/tio.1.in
@@ -155,14 +155,15 @@ If defining more than one flag, the flags must be comma separated.
 Enable hexadecimal mode.
 
 .TP
-.BR \-c ", " "\-\-color " \fI0..255|none|list
+.BR \-c ", " "\-\-color " \fI0..255|bold|none|list
 
 Colorize tio text using ANSI color code value ranging from 0 to 255 or use
-"none" for no color.
+"none" for no color or use "bold" to apply bold formatting to existing system
+color.
 
 Use "list" to print a list of available ANSI color codes.
 
-Default value is 15.
+Default value is "bold".
 
 .TP
 .BR \-S ", " "\-\-socket \fI<socket>\fR\fB
diff --git a/src/configfile.c b/src/configfile.c
index e49fa96..2eb7b18 100644
--- a/src/configfile.c
+++ b/src/configfile.c
@@ -226,6 +226,12 @@ static int data_handler(void *user, const char *section, const char *name,
                 return 0;
             }
 
+            if (!strcmp(value, "bold"))
+            {
+                option.color = 256; // Bold
+                return 0;
+            }
+
             option.color = atoi(value);
             if ((option.color < 0) || (option.color > 255))
             {
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 43ee530..5ab47da 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct option_t option =
     .timestamp = TIMESTAMP_NONE,
     .socket = NULL,
     .map = "",
-    .color = 15,
+    .color = 256, // Bold
     .hex_mode = false,
     .prefix_code = 20, // ctrl-t
     .prefix_key = 't',
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ void print_help(char *argv[])
     printf("      --log-file <filename>              Set log filename\n");
     printf("      --log-strip                        Strip control characters and escape sequences\n");
     printf("  -m, --map <flags>                      Map characters\n");
-    printf("  -c, --color 0..255|none|list           Colorize tio text (default: 15)\n");
+    printf("  -c, --color 0..255|bold|none|list      Colorize tio text (default: bold)\n");
     printf("  -S, --socket <socket>                  Redirect I/O to file or network socket\n");
     printf("  -x, --hexadecimal                      Enable hexadecimal mode\n");
     printf("  -v, --version                          Display version\n");
@@ -333,7 +333,13 @@ void options_parse(int argc, char *argv[])
 
                 if (!strcmp(optarg, "none"))
                 {
-                    option.color = -1;
+                    option.color = -1; // No color
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                if (!strcmp(optarg, "bold"))
+                {
+                    option.color = 256; // Bold
                     break;
                 }
 
diff --git a/src/print.c b/src/print.c
index 68e663c..359c078 100644
--- a/src/print.c
+++ b/src/print.c
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ void print_normal(char c)
 
 void print_init_ansi_formatting()
 {
-  // Set bold text with user defined ANSI color
-  sprintf(ansi_format, "\e[1;38;5;%dm", option.color);
+  if (option.color == 256)
+  {
+    // Set bold text with no color changes
+    sprintf(ansi_format, "\e[1m");
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    // Set 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 5e3dbb2..c212a7c 100644
--- a/src/print.h
+++ b/src/print.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ extern char ansi_format[];
 #define ansi_error_printf(format, args...) \
 { \
   if (option.color < 0) \
-    fprintf (stdout, "\r" format "\r\n", ## args); \
+    fprintf (stderr, "\r" format "\r\n", ## args); \
   else \
     fprintf (stderr, "\r%s" format ANSI_RESET "\r\n", ansi_format, ## args); \
   fflush(stderr); \