diff --git a/scripts/utils.py b/scripts/utils.py
index c6fdacd24..6e5664c62 100644
--- a/scripts/utils.py
+++ b/scripts/utils.py
@@ -22,20 +22,20 @@
 import os
 import os.path
 
-use_color = True
-
 
 # Import side-effects are an evil thing, but here it's okay so scripts using
 # colors work on Windows as well.
 try:
     import colorama
 except ImportError:
-    if os.name == 'nt':
-        use_color = False
+    colorama = None
 else:
     colorama.init()
 
 
+use_color = os.name != 'nt' or colorama
+
+
 fg_colors = {
     'black': 30,
     'red': 31,