diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp
index b231cc74b77..2a72521d1c5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ BuildDirParameters::BuildDirParameters(CMakeBuildSystem *buildSystem)
         environment.set("ICECC", "no");
 
     environment.set("QTC_RUN", "1");
+    environment.setFallback("CMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS", "1");
+    environment.setFallback("CLICOLOR_FORCE", "1");
 
     cmakeToolId = CMakeKitAspect::cmakeToolId(k);
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp
index 7fba5bb98eb..8187311a887 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp
@@ -261,6 +261,8 @@ CMakeBuildStep::CMakeBuildStep(BuildStepList *bsl, Id id) :
             env.set("NINJA_STATUS", ninjaProgressString + "%o/sec] ");
         env.modify(m_userEnvironmentChanges);
 
+        env.setFallback("CLICOLOR_FORCE", "1");
+
         if (useStaging())
             env.set("DESTDIR", stagingDir().path());
     });