diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp
index 0785ca8d959..9f1a03bdc1e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/builddirparameters.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ 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/cmakebuildconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildconfiguration.cpp
index 1c5e78980ab..1bc3794e560 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildconfiguration.cpp
@@ -1187,6 +1187,9 @@ static CommandLine defaultInitialCMakeCommand(
         }
     }
 
+    // CMake should output colors by default
+    cmd.addArg("-DCMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS:BOOL=ON");
+
     cmd.addArgs(CMakeConfigurationKitAspect::toArgumentsList(k));
     cmd.addArgs(CMakeConfigurationKitAspect::additionalConfiguration(k), CommandLine::Raw);