diff --git a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
index faed762..08f6474 100644
--- a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ np: Any = None
 Fore: Any = None
 
 
-def load_nvbench_compare_tooling() -> None:
+def load_nvbench_compare_tooling(*, load_color: bool = True) -> None:
     global Fore, np
 
     if np is None:
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def load_nvbench_compare_tooling() -> None:
             ToolingDependency("numpy", "numpy", "bulk timing analysis"),
             tool_name="nvbench-compare",
         )
-    if Fore is None:
+    if load_color and Fore is None:
         colorama = require_tooling_dependency(
             ToolingDependency("colorama", "colorama", "colored status output"),
             tool_name="nvbench-compare",
@@ -3366,7 +3366,7 @@ def main() -> int:
         return 1
 
     try:
-        load_nvbench_compare_tooling()
+        load_nvbench_compare_tooling(load_color=not args.no_color)
     except MissingToolingDependencyError as exc:
         print(str(exc), file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
@@ -3432,7 +3432,10 @@ def main() -> int:
                 print(str(exc), file=sys.stderr)
                 return 1
 
-            warn_fore = Fore.YELLOW if args.ignore_devices else Fore.RED
+            if args.no_color:
+                warn_fore = ""
+            else:
+                warn_fore = Fore.YELLOW if args.ignore_devices else Fore.RED
             msg_text = "Device sections do not match"
             print(colorize(msg_text, warn_fore, Emoji.NONE, args.no_color), end="")
             print(": ", end="")
diff --git a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
index 747ee50..b03af8d 100644
--- a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
@@ -197,17 +197,23 @@ def test_compare_tooling_loader_recovers_after_partial_failure(
         nvbench_compare, "require_tooling_dependency", fake_require_tooling_dependency
     )
 
+    nvbench_compare.load_nvbench_compare_tooling(load_color=False)
+
+    assert nvbench_compare.np is not None
+    assert nvbench_compare.Fore is None
+    assert attempts == [("numpy", "nvbench-compare")]
+
+    attempts.clear()
+
     with pytest.raises(nvbench_compare.MissingToolingDependencyError):
         nvbench_compare.load_nvbench_compare_tooling()
 
-    assert nvbench_compare.np is not None
     assert nvbench_compare.Fore is None
 
     nvbench_compare.load_nvbench_compare_tooling()
 
     assert nvbench_compare.Fore is not None
     assert attempts == [
-        ("numpy", "nvbench-compare"),
         ("colorama", "nvbench-compare"),
         ("colorama", "nvbench-compare"),
     ]
@@ -2740,6 +2746,39 @@ def test_main_validates_device_filters_before_loading_tooling(
     assert "--reference-devices" in capsys.readouterr().out
 
 
+def test_main_no_color_does_not_require_colorama(monkeypatch, nvbench_compare):
+    calls = []
+
+    def fake_load_tooling(*, load_color=True):
+        calls.append(load_color)
+        nvbench_compare.np = np
+        if load_color:
+            raise AssertionError("color tooling should not load")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        nvbench_compare, "load_nvbench_compare_tooling", fake_load_tooling
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        nvbench_compare.reader,
+        "read_file",
+        make_reader_for_roots(
+            {"devices": [], "benchmarks": []},
+            {"devices": [], "benchmarks": []},
+        ),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        nvbench_compare, "compare_benches", lambda *args, **kwargs: None
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        sys,
+        "argv",
+        ["nvbench_compare", "--no-color", "ref.json", "cmp.json"],
+    )
+
+    assert nvbench_compare.main() == 0
+    assert calls == [False]
+
+
 def test_main_reports_input_read_failures(monkeypatch, capsys, nvbench_compare):
     def read_file(_):
         raise OSError("cannot open file")