diff --git a/mesonbuild/mlog.py b/mesonbuild/mlog.py
index e1d998a5d..83d6cf9d2 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/mlog.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/mlog.py
@@ -404,6 +404,8 @@ class _Logger:
                 _colorize_console = os.isatty(output.fileno()) and _windows_ansi()
             else:
                 _colorize_console = os.isatty(output.fileno()) and os.environ.get('TERM', 'dumb') != 'dumb'
+            if os.environ.get('CLICOLOR_FORCE', '') != '':
+                _colorize_console = True
         except Exception:
             _colorize_console = False
         output.colorize_console = _colorize_console  # type: ignore
