diff --git a/build-support/functions/00-vars.sh b/build-support/functions/00-vars.sh
index c9af7c60b8..a50aa3f23f 100644
--- a/build-support/functions/00-vars.sh
+++ b/build-support/functions/00-vars.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ UI_BUILD_CONTAINER_DEFAULT="consul-build-ui"
 GO_BUILD_CONTAINER_DEFAULT="consul-build-go"
 
 # Whether to colorize shell output
-COLORIZE=${COLORIZE-1}
+if tput reset &>/dev/null ; then
+   COLORIZE=${COLORIZE-1}
+else
+   COLORIZE=0
+fi
 
 # determine GOPATH and the first GOPATH to use for installing binaries
 if command -v go >/dev/null; then