diff --git a/core/terminal/internal_os.odin b/core/terminal/internal_os.odin
index 127cbae54..f4be4480b 100644
--- a/core/terminal/internal_os.odin
+++ b/core/terminal/internal_os.odin
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ get_no_color :: proc() -> bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+get_is_dumb :: proc() -> bool {
+	buf: [128]u8
+	if term, err := os.lookup_env(buf[:], "TERM"); err == nil {
+		// "dumb" terminal overrides all other color and ansi capabilities logic
+		return term == "dumb"
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 get_environment_color :: proc() -> Color_Depth {
 	buf: [128]u8
 	// `COLORTERM` is non-standard but widespread and unambiguous.
@@ -63,10 +72,10 @@ get_environment_color :: proc() -> Color_Depth {
 
 @(init)
 init_terminal :: proc "contextless" () {
-	_init_terminal()
-
 	context = runtime.default_context()
 
+	_init_terminal()
+
 	// We respect `NO_COLOR` specifically as a color-disabler but not as a
 	// blanket ban on any terminal manipulation codes, hence why this comes
 	// after `_init_terminal` which will allow Windows to enable Virtual
diff --git a/core/terminal/terminal.odin b/core/terminal/terminal.odin
index 86d928649..0f882b296 100644
--- a/core/terminal/terminal.odin
+++ b/core/terminal/terminal.odin
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ is_terminal :: proc(f: $T) -> bool {
 	return _is_terminal(f)
 }
 
+/*
+This is true if the terminal is dumb, i.e. cannot process ANSI control sequences.
+*/
+is_dumb: bool
+
 /*
 This is true if the terminal is accepting any form of colored text output.
 */
diff --git a/core/terminal/terminal_js.odin b/core/terminal/terminal_js.odin
index 78c6c240f..aafb3223a 100644
--- a/core/terminal/terminal_js.odin
+++ b/core/terminal/terminal_js.odin
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ _is_terminal :: proc "contextless" (handle: any) -> bool {
 
 _init_terminal :: proc "contextless" () {
 	color_depth = .None
+	is_dumb     = true
 }
 
 _fini_terminal :: proc "contextless" () { }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/terminal/terminal_posix.odin b/core/terminal/terminal_posix.odin
index 62a79797b..3b6701722 100644
--- a/core/terminal/terminal_posix.odin
+++ b/core/terminal/terminal_posix.odin
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ _is_terminal :: proc "contextless" (f: ^os.File) -> bool {
 _init_terminal :: proc "contextless" () {
 	context = runtime.default_context()
 	color_depth = get_environment_color()
+	is_dumb     = get_is_dumb()
 }
 
 _fini_terminal :: proc "contextless" () { }
diff --git a/core/terminal/terminal_windows.odin b/core/terminal/terminal_windows.odin
index 64244e1ac..aff71b362 100644
--- a/core/terminal/terminal_windows.odin
+++ b/core/terminal/terminal_windows.odin
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ old_modes: [2]struct{
 }
 
 _init_terminal :: proc "contextless" () {
+	context = runtime.default_context()
+
 	vtp_enabled: bool
 
 	for &v in old_modes {
@@ -41,11 +43,11 @@ _init_terminal :: proc "contextless" () {
 		// This color depth is available on Windows 10 since build 10586.
 		color_depth = .Four_Bit
 	} else {
-		context = runtime.default_context()
-
 		// The user may be on a non-default terminal emulator.
 		color_depth = get_environment_color()
 	}
+
+	is_dumb = get_is_dumb()
 }
 
 _fini_terminal :: proc "contextless" () {
diff --git a/core/testing/runner.odin b/core/testing/runner.odin
index 9033d078e..e298cf47c 100644
--- a/core/testing/runner.odin
+++ b/core/testing/runner.odin
@@ -278,9 +278,8 @@ runner :: proc(internal_tests: []Internal_Test) -> bool {
 
 	// The animations are only ever shown through STDOUT;
 	// STDERR is used exclusively for logging regardless of error level.
-	global_log_colors_disabled = !terminal.color_enabled || !terminal.is_terminal(os.stderr)
-	global_ansi_disabled       = !terminal.is_terminal(os.stdout)
-
+	global_log_colors_disabled = terminal.is_dumb || !terminal.color_enabled || !terminal.is_terminal(os.stderr)
+	global_ansi_disabled       = terminal.is_dumb || !terminal.is_terminal(os.stdout)
 	should_show_animations := FANCY_OUTPUT && terminal.color_enabled && !global_ansi_disabled
 
 	// -- Parse CLI options