diff --git a/srcpkgs/nethack/template b/srcpkgs/nethack/template
index dae3e204b60..659e8886c9a 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/nethack/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/nethack/template
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Template file for 'nethack'
 pkgname=nethack
 version=3.6.7
-revision=2
+revision=3
 conf_files="/etc/nethack/sysconf"
 make_dirs="/var/games/nethack/save 0775 nethack nethack"
 hostmakedepends="flex groff"
@@ -21,13 +21,9 @@ do_configure() {
 }
 
 do_build() {
-	local nocol
-	if ! command -v col >/dev/null; then
-		nocol=yes
-	fi
 	make all dungeon \
 		CC="$CC" LINK="$CC" LFLAGS="$LDFLAGS" LEX=flex \
-		"${nocol:+COLCMD=cat}" \
+		COLCMD="sed 's/.\x08//g'" \
 		HACKDIR="/var/games/nethack"
 }