diff --git a/scripts/_utils.sh b/scripts/_utils.sh
index 930292a..607b841 100644
--- a/scripts/_utils.sh
+++ b/scripts/_utils.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ rootfs_image_tag() {
 # CLI output helpers
 #
 
+if [[ -z $TERM || $TERM == dumb ]]; then
+    TERM=ansi
+fi
+export TERM
+
 declare -A _TERM_SEQ_MAP=(
     ["reset"]="$(tput sgr0)"
     ["bold"]="$(tput bold)"