diff --git a/lib/extendStringPrototype.js b/lib/extendStringPrototype.js
index b6b5b031..bb9d2619 100644
--- a/lib/extendStringPrototype.js
+++ b/lib/extendStringPrototype.js
@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ module['exports'] = function () {
       }
   };
 
-  var stylize = function stylize (str, style) {
-    return styles[style].open + str + styles[style].close;
-  }
+  var stylize = function stylize (str, style) { return str.valueOf(); };
 
+  if (colors.enabled) {
+    stylize = function stylize (str, style) {
+      return styles[style].open + str + styles[style].close;
+    }
+  }
+  
   addProperty('strip', function () {
     return colors.strip(this);
   });
@@ -115,4 +119,4 @@ module['exports'] = function () {
     }
   };
 
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};