diff --git a/src/commands.rs b/src/commands.rs
index e2765d108..cf4c5ed48 100644
--- a/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src/commands.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ use pest::Parser;
 use self::chrono::{FixedOffset, TimeZone, Utc};
 use crate::commands::CommandError::UserError;
 use crate::diff_edit::DiffEditError;
-use crate::formatter::{ColorFormatter, Formatter};
+use crate::formatter::Formatter;
 use crate::graphlog::{AsciiGraphDrawer, Edge};
 use crate::template_parser::TemplateParser;
 use crate::templater::Template;
@@ -1055,7 +1055,7 @@ fn cmd_diff(
         let summary = from_tree.diff_summary(&to_tree);
         show_diff_summary(ui, repo.working_copy_path(), &summary)?;
     } else {
-        let mut formatter = ui.formatter();
+        let mut formatter = ui.stdout_formatter();
         formatter.add_label(String::from("diff"))?;
         for (path, diff) in from_tree.diff(&to_tree) {
             let ui_path = ui.format_file_path(repo.working_copy_path(), &path);
@@ -1296,7 +1296,7 @@ fn cmd_log(
     let template =
         crate::template_parser::parse_commit_template(repo.as_repo_ref(), &template_string);
 
-    let mut formatter = ui.formatter();
+    let mut formatter = ui.stdout_formatter();
     let mut formatter = formatter.as_mut();
     formatter.add_label(String::from("log"))?;
 
@@ -1327,12 +1327,11 @@ fn cmd_log(
                 graphlog_edges.push(Edge::Missing);
             }
             let mut buffer = vec![];
-            // TODO: only use color if requested
             {
                 let writer = Box::new(&mut buffer);
-                let mut formatter = ColorFormatter::new(writer, ui.settings());
+                let mut formatter = ui.new_formatter(writer);
                 let commit = store.get_commit(&index_entry.commit_id()).unwrap();
-                template.format(&commit, &mut formatter)?;
+                template.format(&commit, formatter.as_mut())?;
             }
             if !buffer.ends_with(b"\n") {
                 buffer.push(b'\n');
@@ -1385,7 +1384,7 @@ fn cmd_obslog(
         &template_string,
     );
 
-    let mut formatter = ui.formatter();
+    let mut formatter = ui.stdout_formatter();
     let mut formatter = formatter.as_mut();
     formatter.add_label(String::from("log"))?;
 
@@ -1402,11 +1401,10 @@ fn cmd_obslog(
                 edges.push(Edge::direct(predecessor.id().clone()));
             }
             let mut buffer = vec![];
-            // TODO: only use color if requested
             {
                 let writer = Box::new(&mut buffer);
-                let mut formatter = ColorFormatter::new(writer, ui.settings());
-                template.format(&commit, &mut formatter)?;
+                let mut formatter = ui.new_formatter(writer);
+                template.format(&commit, formatter.as_mut())?;
             }
             if !buffer.ends_with(b"\n") {
                 buffer.push(b'\n');
@@ -2227,7 +2225,7 @@ fn cmd_op_log(
     let repo = repo_command.repo();
     let head_op = repo.operation().clone();
     let head_op_id = head_op.id().clone();
-    let mut formatter = ui.formatter();
+    let mut formatter = ui.stdout_formatter();
     let mut formatter = formatter.as_mut();
     struct OpTemplate;
     impl Template<Operation> for OpTemplate {
@@ -2276,11 +2274,10 @@ fn cmd_op_log(
             edges.push(Edge::direct(parent.id().clone()));
         }
         let mut buffer = vec![];
-        // TODO: only use color if requested
         {
             let writer = Box::new(&mut buffer);
-            let mut formatter = ColorFormatter::new(writer, ui.settings());
-            template.format(&op, &mut formatter)?;
+            let mut formatter = ui.new_formatter(writer);
+            template.format(&op, formatter.as_mut())?;
         }
         if !buffer.ends_with(b"\n") {
             buffer.push(b'\n');
diff --git a/src/ui.rs b/src/ui.rs
index ae4f0617b..5f901f651 100644
--- a/src/ui.rs
+++ b/src/ui.rs
@@ -27,10 +27,23 @@ use crate::templater::TemplateFormatter;
 
 pub struct Ui<'a> {
     cwd: PathBuf,
+    color: bool,
     formatter: Mutex<Box<dyn Formatter + 'a>>,
     settings: UserSettings,
 }
 
+fn new_formatter<'output>(
+    settings: &UserSettings,
+    color: bool,
+    output: Box<dyn Write + 'output>,
+) -> Box<dyn Formatter + 'output> {
+    if color {
+        Box::new(ColorFormatter::new(output, &settings))
+    } else {
+        Box::new(PlainTextFormatter::new(output))
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'stdout> Ui<'stdout> {
     pub fn new(
         cwd: PathBuf,
@@ -38,14 +51,11 @@ impl<'stdout> Ui<'stdout> {
         is_atty: bool,
         settings: UserSettings,
     ) -> Ui<'stdout> {
-        let formatter: Box<dyn Formatter + 'stdout> = if is_atty {
-            Box::new(ColorFormatter::new(stdout, &settings))
-        } else {
-            Box::new(PlainTextFormatter::new(stdout))
-        };
-        let formatter = Mutex::new(formatter);
+        let color = is_atty;
+        let formatter = Mutex::new(new_formatter(&settings, color, stdout));
         Ui {
             cwd,
+            color,
             formatter,
             settings,
         }
@@ -65,20 +75,27 @@ impl<'stdout> Ui<'stdout> {
         &self.settings
     }
 
-    pub fn formatter(&self) -> MutexGuard<Box<dyn Formatter + 'stdout>> {
+    pub fn new_formatter<'output>(
+        &self,
+        output: Box<dyn Write + 'output>,
+    ) -> Box<dyn Formatter + 'output> {
+        new_formatter(&self.settings, self.color, output)
+    }
+
+    pub fn stdout_formatter(&self) -> MutexGuard<Box<dyn Formatter + 'stdout>> {
         self.formatter.lock().unwrap()
     }
 
     pub fn write(&mut self, text: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-        self.formatter().write_str(text)
+        self.stdout_formatter().write_str(text)
     }
 
     pub fn write_fmt(&mut self, fmt: fmt::Arguments<'_>) -> io::Result<()> {
-        self.formatter().write_fmt(fmt)
+        self.stdout_formatter().write_fmt(fmt)
     }
 
     pub fn write_error(&mut self, text: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-        let mut formatter = self.formatter();
+        let mut formatter = self.stdout_formatter();
         formatter.add_label(String::from("error"))?;
         formatter.write_str(text)?;
         formatter.remove_label()?;
@@ -96,7 +113,7 @@ impl<'stdout> Ui<'stdout> {
                 )
             });
         let template = crate::template_parser::parse_commit_template(repo, &template_string);
-        let mut formatter = self.formatter();
+        let mut formatter = self.stdout_formatter();
         let mut template_writer = TemplateFormatter::new(template, formatter.as_mut());
         template_writer.format(commit)?;
         Ok(())