diff --git a/tools/make_man.sh b/tools/make_man.sh
index ad49ee73..c6ab4bb1 100755
--- a/tools/make_man.sh
+++ b/tools/make_man.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ set -e
 # Use C local to avoid local dates in headers
 export LANG=C
 
+# disable termcolor
+export ANSI_COLORS_DISABLED=1
+
 [ -z "${TMPDIR}" ] && TMPDIR="/tmp"
 
 # do not allow undefined variables anymore