diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8f68aab4ea3..7af34eb84ab 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,9 +60,11 @@ endfunction()
 
 option(PROFILE_TESTS "Profile tests" OFF)
 
-# Add CCF_PYTHON_PRELAUNCH=unbuffer to env when calling cmake to get coloured
-# test output
-set(PYTHON "$ENV{CCF_PYTHON_PRELAUNCH}" python3)
+if("$ENV{CI}" STREQUAL "")
+  set(PYTHON unbuffer python3)
+else()
+  set(PYTHON python3)
+endif()
 
 set(DISTRIBUTE_PERF_TESTS
     ""