diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
index a65078c0d4e..19eba2b0f53 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ PHPUnit 3.8.0
 * A test will now fail in strict mode when it uses the `@covers` annotation and code that is not expected to be covered is executed.
 * Implemented #711: `coverage-text` now has an XML `showOnlySummary` option.
 * Fixed: `phpt` test cases now use the correct php binary when executed through wrapper scripts.
+* Implemented #719: The `--stderr` flag now respects `--colors` and `--debug`.
 * PHPUnit 3.8 is only supported on PHP 5.4.7 (or later).
diff --git a/PHPUnit/TextUI/Command.php b/PHPUnit/TextUI/Command.php
index d6e0305df15..59f573b3145 100644
--- a/PHPUnit/TextUI/Command.php
+++ b/PHPUnit/TextUI/Command.php
@@ -415,11 +415,7 @@ protected function handleArguments(array $argv)
                 break;
 
                 case '--stderr': {
-                    $this->arguments['printer'] = new PHPUnit_TextUI_ResultPrinter(
-                      'php://stderr',
-                      isset($this->arguments['verbose']) ? $this->arguments['verbose'] : FALSE
-                    );
-                }
+                    $this->arguments['stderr'] = true;                }
                 break;
 
                 case '--stop-on-error': {
@@ -512,6 +508,15 @@ protected function handleArguments(array $argv)
             }
         }
 
+        if (isset($this->arguments['stderr'])) {
+            $this->arguments['printer'] = new PHPUnit_TextUI_ResultPrinter(
+              'php://stderr',
+              isset($this->arguments['verbose']) ?: FALSE,
+              isset($this->arguments['colors']) ?: FALSE,
+              isset($this->arguments['debug']) ?: FALSE
+            );
+        }
+
         $this->handleCustomTestSuite();
 
         if (!isset($this->arguments['test'])) {