diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index cdb5f8c6d64..712a578c6f9 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -474,6 +474,9 @@ fi
 # Read settings from config file
 [ -s "$XBPS_CONFIG_FILE" ] && . $XBPS_CONFIG_FILE &>/dev/null
 
+# show colors unconditionally in CI
+[ "$XBPS_BUILD_ENVIRONMENT" = void-packages-ci ] && export NOCOLORS=
+
 # Set options passed on command line, after configuration files have been read
 [ -n "$XBPS_ARG_BUILD_ONLY_ONE_PKG" ] && XBPS_BUILD_ONLY_ONE_PKG=yes
 [ -n "$XBPS_ARG_IGNORE_BROKENNESS" ] && XBPS_IGNORE_BROKENNESS=1