diff --git a/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample b/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample
index c618ef3..67f2f84 100644
--- a/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample
+++ b/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ bastille_tzdata="Etc/UTC"                                             ## default
 ## default jail resolv.conf
 bastille_resolv_conf="/etc/resolv.conf"                               ## default: "/etc/resolv.conf"
 
+## default output colors
+bastille_colors_enable="YES"                                          ## default: "YES"
+
 ## bootstrap urls
 bastille_url_freebsd="http://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/releases/"          ## default: "http://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/releases/"
 bastille_url_hardenedbsd="http://installer.hardenedbsd.org/pub/hardenedbsd/" ## default: "https://installer.hardenedbsd.org/pub/HardenedBSD/releases/"
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/common.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/common.sh
index 5feeb24..4186519 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/common.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/common.sh
@@ -28,7 +28,21 @@
 # OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
 # OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
-. /usr/local/share/bastille/colors.pre.sh
+. /usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf
+
+# Load text output colors if enabled in config
+# else reset colors variables used by bastille
+case "${bastille_colors_enable}" in
+    [Yy][Ee][Ss])
+        . /usr/local/share/bastille/colors.pre.sh
+        ;;
+    *)
+        COLOR_RED=
+        COLOR_GREEN=
+        COLOR_YELLOW=
+        COLOR_RESET=
+        ;;
+esac
 
 # Notify message on error, but do not exit
 error_notify() {
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
index 560e58e..9acf134 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 usage() {
     # Build an independent usage for the create command
     # If no option specified, will create a thin container by default
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Usage: bastille create [option(s)] name release ip [interface]${COLOR_RESET}"
+    error_notify "Usage: bastille create [option(s)] name release ip [interface]"
 
     cat << EOF
     Options:
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/export.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/export.sh
index af1d284..057906c 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/export.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/export.sh
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ usage() {
     # Valid compress/options for ZFS systems are raw, .gz, .tgz, .txz and .xz
     # Valid compress/options for non ZFS configured systems are .tgz and .txz
     # If no compression option specified, user must redirect standard output
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Usage: bastille export | option(s) | TARGET | PATH${COLOR_RESET}"
+    error_notify "Usage: bastille export | option(s) | TARGET | PATH"
 
     cat << EOF
     Options:
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh
index 48e88df..f4c78ce 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 usage() {
     # Build an independent usage for the import command
     # If no file/extension specified, will import from standard input
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Usage: bastille import [option(s)] FILE${COLOR_RESET}"
+    error_notify "Usage: bastille import [option(s)] FILE"
 
     cat << EOF
     Options: