diff --git a/jupyter_console/ptshell.py b/jupyter_console/ptshell.py
index 04b4a9a8..dd20a76f 100644
--- a/jupyter_console/ptshell.py
+++ b/jupyter_console/ptshell.py
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ def get_completions(self, document, complete_event):
             yield Completion(m, start_position=start_pos)
 
 class ZMQTerminalInteractiveShell(SingletonConfigurable):
-    colors_force = True
     readline_use = False
 
     pt_cli = None