diff --git a/bytebeat_compiler.py b/bytebeat_compiler.py
index c9f3207..ed2d225 100644
--- a/bytebeat_compiler.py
+++ b/bytebeat_compiler.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from argparse import ArgumentParser
 from os import environ, makedirs
 from os.path import exists, join as path_join
 from shlex import split as command_line_split
-from sys import stdin, exit
+from sys import stdin, stdout, exit
 from typing import Dict, Union
 import subprocess
 
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ DEFAULT_PARAMETERS = {
 	"OUTPUT_FILE": PATHS["output"]
 }
 
+stdout_atty = hasattr(stdout, "isatty") and stdout.isatty()
+
 def fetch(name: str):
 	if from_env := environ.get(name):
 		return from_env
@@ -137,6 +139,9 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 		help="show progress during generation")
 	parser.add_argument("-E", "--show-substituted-values", default=False,
 		action="store_true", help="show substituted values")
+	parser.add_argument("--color", default="auto", type=str,
+		help="ANSI escape codes. Set to 'always' to enable them, 'none' to "
+		     "disable. Default: 'auto'.")
 	args = parser.parse_args()
 
 	bytebeat_contents = read_from_file_or_stdin(args.file).strip()
@@ -203,6 +208,9 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
 	gen_length = args.channels * samples
 
+	ansi_escape_codes_supported = args.color == "auto" and stdout_atty or \
+	                              args.color == "always"
+
 	rewrite_file(PATHS["substitute"], substitute_vars({
 		"bytebeat_contents": bytebeat_contents,
 		"output_file": C_str_repr(args.output),
@@ -223,7 +231,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 		"block_size": args.block_size,
 		"silent_mode": args.silent,
 		"verbose_mode": args.verbose and not args.silent,
-		"fwrite_le": PATHS["fwrite_le_header"]
+		"fwrite_le": PATHS["fwrite_le_header"],
+		"ansi_escape_codes_supported": ansi_escape_codes_supported
 	}, read_file(PATHS["template"]), args.show_substituted_values))
 
 	# Compile by invoking the shell script
diff --git a/src/template.c b/src/template.c
index 38c8f85..a437855 100644
--- a/src/template.c
+++ b/src/template.c
@@ -10,14 +10,17 @@
 #include "`fwrite_le`"
 
 // constants
-#if defined(_WIN32)
-# define __ANSI_CLEAR_STRING "\r"
-#elif defined(__unix__) || defined(__linux__)
-# define __ANSI_CLEAR_STRING "\x1B[2K\r"
-#else
-# define __ANSI_CLEAR_STRING "\n"
+#define ANSI_ESCAPE_CODES_SUPPORTED `ansi_escape_codes_supported`
+
+#ifndef _ANSI_CLEAR_STRING /* can be defined during compilation */
+# if ANSI_ESCAPE_CODES_SUPPORTED
+#  define _ANSI_CLEAR_STRING "\x1B[2K\r"
+# elif defined(_WIN32)
+#  define _ANSI_CLEAR_STRING "\r"
+# else
+#  define _ANSI_CLEAR_STRING "\n"
+# endif
 #endif
-const char* ANSI_CLEAR = __ANSI_CLEAR_STRING;
 
 #define OUTPUT_FILE `output_file`
 
@@ -310,7 +313,7 @@ main(void)
 				  " (part %" PRIuMAX "/%" PRIuMAX ")"
 #endif
 				  ,
-				  ANSI_CLEAR,
+				  _ANSI_CLEAR_STRING,
 				  gen_length_minus_1 - time,
 				  ((long double) time * 100) / (long double) GEN_LENGTH
 #if SEQUENTIAL_MODE
@@ -323,7 +326,7 @@ main(void)
 		}
 
 #if !SILENT_MODE
-		printf(ANSI_CLEAR);
+		printf(_ANSI_CLEAR_STRING);
 
 		// 5. log
 #if !(SEQUENTIAL_MODE && VERBOSE_MODE)