diff --git a/rlipython/shell.py b/rlipython/shell.py
index bd5fabf..038e201 100644
--- a/rlipython/shell.py
+++ b/rlipython/shell.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 import os
 import sys
 
+import colorama
+
 from IPython.utils.strdispatch import StrDispatch
 
 from IPython.core.error import TryNext, UsageError
@@ -28,6 +30,8 @@
 from traitlets import Integer, CBool, Unicode, default
 
 
+colorama.init()
+
 def get_default_editor():
     try:
         ed = os.environ['EDITOR']
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e9a7c61..b82a508 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     name='rlipython',
     version='0.1.2',
     packages=['rlipython',],
-    install_requires=["ipython>5.3"],
+    install_requires=["colorama", "ipython>5.3"],
     extras_requires=extras_requires,
     license='BSD',
     author='The IPython Development Team',