diff --git a/tools/u_boot_pylib/tout.py b/tools/u_boot_pylib/tout.py
index 6bd2806..37849d1 100644
--- a/tools/u_boot_pylib/tout.py
+++ b/tools/u_boot_pylib/tout.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
     """
     _output(0, msg)
 
-def init(_verbose=WARNING, stdout=sys.stdout):
+def init(_verbose=WARNING, stdout=sys.stdout, allow_colour=True):
     """Initialize a new output object.
 
     Args:
@@ -166,7 +166,8 @@
 
     verbose = _verbose
     _progress = ''                    # Our last progress message
-    _color = terminal.Color()
+    _color = terminal.Color(terminal.COLOR_IF_TERMINAL if allow_colour
+                            else terminal.COLOR_NEVER)
     _stdout = stdout
 
     # TODO(sjg): Move this into Chromite libraries when we have them