diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 6e18167..6d8924e 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -176,12 +176,16 @@ init(autoreset=False):
 init(strip=None):
     Pass ``True`` or ``False`` to override whether ansi codes should be
     stripped from the output. The default behaviour is to strip if on Windows
-    or if output is redirected (not a tty).
+    or if output is redirected (not a tty), and if the ``FORCE_COLOR``
+    environment variable is not set (with any value) or ``NO_COLOR`` is
+    set (with any value).
 
 init(convert=None):
     Pass ``True`` or ``False`` to override whether to convert ANSI codes in the
     output into win32 calls. The default behaviour is to convert if on Windows
-    and output is to a tty (terminal).
+    and output is to a tty (terminal), or the ``FORCE_COLOR`` environment
+    variable is set (with any value) and ``NO_COLOR`` is not set (with any
+    value).
 
 init(wrap=True):
     On Windows, colorama works by replacing ``sys.stdout`` and ``sys.stderr``
diff --git a/colorama/ansitowin32.py b/colorama/ansitowin32.py
index 6039a05..2919ca3 100644
--- a/colorama/ansitowin32.py
+++ b/colorama/ansitowin32.py
@@ -87,14 +87,21 @@ def __init__(self, wrapped, convert=None, strip=None, autoreset=False):
         # to support the ANSI codes.
         conversion_supported = on_windows and winapi_test()
 
+        # check if this is a TTY or if the FORCE_COLOR environment variable
+        # has been set and NO_COLOR has not been set.
+        not_closed = not self.stream.closed
+        force_color = 'FORCE_COLOR' in os.environ.keys()
+        no_color = 'NO_COLOR' in os.environ.keys()
+        color_allowed = ((not_closed and self.stream.isatty()) or force_color) and not no_color
+
         # should we strip ANSI sequences from our output?
         if strip is None:
-            strip = conversion_supported or (not self.stream.closed and not self.stream.isatty())
+            strip = conversion_supported or (not_closed and not color_allowed)
         self.strip = strip
 
         # should we should convert ANSI sequences into win32 calls?
         if convert is None:
-            convert = conversion_supported and not self.stream.closed and self.stream.isatty()
+            convert = conversion_supported and not_closed and color_allowed
         self.convert = convert
 
         # dict of ansi codes to win32 functions and parameters