diff --git a/HISTORY.rst b/HISTORY.rst
index 4d8b127c..2ab9f183 100644
--- a/HISTORY.rst
+++ b/HISTORY.rst
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ PlatformIO 2.0
   and allowed to `change default upload reset method <http://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/platforms/espressif.html#custom-reset-method>`_
   for Espressif development platform
   (`issue #444 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio/issues/444>`_)
+* Allowed to force to output color ANSI-codes even if the output is a ``pipe``
+  (not a ``tty``)
+  (`issue #465 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio/issues/465>`_)
 * Set 1Mb SPIFFS for Espressif boards by default
   (`issue #458 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio/issues/458>`_)
 * Fixed builder for mbed framework and ST STM32 platform
diff --git a/docs/envvars.rst b/docs/envvars.rst
index d2d4f244..f9f037da 100644
--- a/docs/envvars.rst
+++ b/docs/envvars.rst
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ Currently, PlatformIO uses it to disable prompts.
 In other words, ``CI=true`` automatically setup
 :envvar:`PLATFORMIO_SETTING_ENABLE_PROMPTS=false <PLATFORMIO_SETTING_ENABLE_PROMPTS>`.
 
+.. envvar:: PLATFORMIO_FORCE_COLOR
+
+Force to output color ANSI-codes even if the output is a ``pipe`` (not a ``tty``).
+The possible values are ``true`` and ``false``. Default is ``PLATFORMIO_FORCE_COLOR=false``.
+
 .. envvar:: PLATFORMIO_HOME_DIR
 
 Allows to override :ref:`projectconf` option :ref:`projectconf_pio_home_dir`.
diff --git a/platformio/__init__.py b/platformio/__init__.py
index dc5a8938..abb8deef 100644
--- a/platformio/__init__.py
+++ b/platformio/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 import sys
 
-VERSION = (2, 7, "2.dev4")
+VERSION = (2, 7, "2.dev5")
 __version__ = ".".join([str(s) for s in VERSION])
 
 __title__ = "platformio"
diff --git a/platformio/__main__.py b/platformio/__main__.py
index a5670711..8fe2359f 100644
--- a/platformio/__main__.py
+++ b/platformio/__main__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from os import listdir
+from os import getenv, listdir
 from os.path import join
 from platform import system
 from sys import exit as sys_exit
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ def main():
                 "Invalid installation of Python `requests` package`. See "
                 "< https://github.com/platformio/platformio/issues/252 >")
 
+        # handle PLATFORMIO_FORCE_COLOR
+        if str(getenv("PLATFORMIO_FORCE_COLOR", "")).lower() == "true":
+            try:
+                # pylint: disable=protected-access
+                click._compat.isatty = lambda stream: True
+            except:  # pylint: disable=bare-except
+                pass
+
         cli(None, None, None)
     except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=W0703
         if not isinstance(e, exception.ReturnErrorCode):