diff --git a/variables.mk b/variables.mk
index a38d8c85..eb9620f2 100644
--- a/variables.mk
+++ b/variables.mk
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ SBT_CLIENT_FLAG = --client
 endif
 
 # passes $(JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS) from env to java
-export SBT_OPTS ?= -Dsbt.ivy.home=$(base_dir)/.ivy2 -Dsbt.global.base=$(base_dir)/.sbt -Dsbt.boot.directory=$(base_dir)/.sbt/boot/
+export SBT_OPTS ?= -Dsbt.ivy.home=$(base_dir)/.ivy2 -Dsbt.global.base=$(base_dir)/.sbt -Dsbt.boot.directory=$(base_dir)/.sbt/boot/ -Dsbt.color=always
 SBT_BIN ?= java -jar $(ROCKETCHIP_DIR)/sbt-launch.jar $(SBT_OPTS)
 SBT = $(SBT_BIN) $(SBT_CLIENT_FLAG)
 SBT_NON_THIN = $(subst $(SBT_CLIENT_FLAG),,$(SBT))