diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f8916cd..59b9542 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ SET(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/")
 set(CURSES_NEED_NCURSES TRUE)
 set(CURSES_NEED_WIDE TRUE)
 
+#use cmake option -DCOLORS=OFF to disable color output
+option(COLORS
+    "Build with Colors Enabled" ON)
+if (COLORS)
+    add_definitions(-DPRETTY_COLORS) 
+endif ()
+
 include(git_revision)
 git_describe(GIT_TAG)
 
diff --git a/include/dsd.h b/include/dsd.h
index 906b8b3..eedb10a 100644
--- a/include/dsd.h
+++ b/include/dsd.h
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
  * PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
  */
 
-//pretty pretty colors
+//defined by CMakeLists.txt -- Disable by using cmake -DCOLORS=OFF ..
+#ifdef PRETTY_COLORS
 #define KNRM  "\x1B[0m"
 #define KRED  "\x1B[31m"
 #define KGRN  "\x1B[32m"
@@ -26,6 +27,16 @@
 #define KMAG  "\x1B[35m"
 #define KCYN  "\x1B[36m"
 #define KWHT  "\x1B[37m"
+#else
+#define KNRM  ""
+#define KRED  ""
+#define KGRN  ""
+#define KYEL  ""
+#define KBLU  ""
+#define KMAG  ""
+#define KCYN  ""
+#define KWHT  ""
+#endif
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include <stdio.h>
diff --git a/src/dsd_ncurses.c b/src/dsd_ncurses.c
index 6877105..c416dbf 100644
--- a/src/dsd_ncurses.c
+++ b/src/dsd_ncurses.c
@@ -378,12 +378,23 @@ void ncursesOpen (dsd_opts * opts, dsd_state * state)
   setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
   initscr(); //Initialize NCURSES screen window
   start_color();
+
+  #ifdef PRETTY_COLORS
   init_pair(1, COLOR_YELLOW, COLOR_BLACK);      //Yellow/Amber for frame sync/control channel, NV style
   init_pair(2, COLOR_RED, COLOR_BLACK);        //Red for Terminated Calls
   init_pair(3, COLOR_GREEN, COLOR_BLACK);     //Green for Active Calls
   init_pair(4, COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_BLACK);     //Cyan for Site Extra and Patches
   init_pair(5, COLOR_MAGENTA, COLOR_BLACK); //Magenta for no frame sync/signal
   init_pair(6, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  #else
+  init_pair(1, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  init_pair(2, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  init_pair(3, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  init_pair(4, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  init_pair(5, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  init_pair(6, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);  //White Card Color Scheme
+  #endif
+
   noecho();
   cbreak();