diff --git a/cmd/main.go b/cmd/main.go
index 3bb0335f..fd81619d 100644
--- a/cmd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/main.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func setupFlags(name string) (*pflag.FlagSet, *options) {
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.jsonFile, "jsonfile",
 		lookEnvWithDefault("GOTESTSUM_JSONFILE", ""),
 		"write all TestEvents to file")
-	flags.BoolVar(&opts.noColor, "no-color", color.NoColor, "disable color output")
+	flags.BoolVar(&opts.noColor, "no-color", defaultNoColor, "disable color output")
 
 	flags.Var(opts.hideSummary, "no-summary",
 		"do not print summary of: "+testjson.SummarizeAll.String())
@@ -175,6 +175,13 @@ func (o options) Validate() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+var defaultNoColor = func() bool {
+	if os.Getenv("GITHUB_ACTIONS") == "true" {
+		return false
+	}
+	return color.NoColor
+}()
+
 func setupLogging(opts *options) {
 	if opts.debug {
 		log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)