diff --git a/tools/idf_py_actions/constants.py b/tools/idf_py_actions/constants.py
index 18ebe3e7c2..19e9e99587 100644
--- a/tools/idf_py_actions/constants.py
+++ b/tools/idf_py_actions/constants.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ GENERATORS: Dict[str, Union[str, Dict, list]] = collections.OrderedDict([
     # - dry_run: command to run in dry run mode
     # - verbose_flag: verbose flag
     # - force_progression: one liner status of the progress
-    # - envvar: environment variables
     ('Ninja', {
         'command': ['ninja'],
         'version': ['ninja', '--version'],
@@ -20,7 +19,6 @@ GENERATORS: Dict[str, Union[str, Dict, list]] = collections.OrderedDict([
         'verbose_flag': '-v',
         # as opposed to printing the status updates each in a in new line
         'force_progression': True,
-        'envvar': {}
     }),
 ])
 
@@ -30,9 +28,7 @@ if os.name != 'nt':
                                     'version': [MAKE_CMD, '--version'],
                                     'dry_run': [MAKE_CMD, '-n'],
                                     'verbose_flag': 'VERBOSE=1',
-                                    'force_progression': False,
-                                    # CLICOLOR_FORCE if set forcing make to print ANSI escape sequence
-                                    'envvar': {'CLICOLOR_FORCE': '1'}}
+                                    'force_progression': False}
 
 URL_TO_DOC = 'https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf'
 
diff --git a/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py b/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py
index 2eecd1d2b1..854ca48a10 100644
--- a/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py
+++ b/tools/idf_py_actions/tools.py
@@ -300,11 +300,17 @@ def run_target(target_name: str, args: 'PropertyDict', env: Optional[Dict]=None,
         env = {}
 
     generator_cmd = GENERATORS[args.generator]['command']
-    env.update(GENERATORS[args.generator]['envvar'])
 
     if args.verbose:
         generator_cmd += [GENERATORS[args.generator]['verbose_flag']]
 
+    # By default, GNU Make and Ninja strip away color escape sequences when they see that their stdout is redirected.
+    # If idf.py's stdout is not redirected, the final output is a TTY, so we can tell Make/Ninja to disable stripping
+    # of color escape sequences. (Requires Ninja v1.9.0 or later.)
+    if sys.stdout.isatty():
+        if 'CLICOLOR_FORCE' not in env:
+            env['CLICOLOR_FORCE'] = '1'
+
     RunTool(generator_cmd[0], generator_cmd + [target_name], args.build_dir, env, custom_error_handler, hints=not args.no_hints,
             force_progression=force_progression, interactive=interactive)()