diff -r 9b7a2c5fff98 -r c3780102207c SConstruct
--- a/SConstruct	Fri Apr 06 19:10:21 2012 +0100
+++ b/SConstruct	Fri Apr 06 19:36:36 2012 +0100
@@ -463,6 +463,8 @@
 
 Export('Transform')
 
+# enable the regression script to determine whether to use color or not
+main['USECOLORS'] = use_colors
 
 if GetOption('verbose'):
     def MakeAction(action, string, *args, **kwargs):
diff -r 9b7a2c5fff98 -r c3780102207c tests/SConscript
--- a/tests/SConscript	Fri Apr 06 19:10:21 2012 +0100
+++ b/tests/SConscript	Fri Apr 06 19:36:36 2012 +0100
@@ -38,6 +38,17 @@
 
 env['DIFFOUT'] = File('diff-out')
 
+# determine the use of colors or not based on the imported environment
+use_colors = env['USECOLORS']
+
+if use_colors:
+    from m5.util.terminal import termcap
+elif use_colors is None:
+    # option unspecified; default behavior is to use colors iff isatty
+    from m5.util.terminal import tty_termcap as termcap
+else:
+    from m5.util.terminal import no_termcap as termcap
+
 # Dict that accumulates lists of tests by category (quick, medium, long)
 env.Tests = {}
 
@@ -171,7 +182,26 @@
 testAction = env.Action(run_test, run_test_string)
 
 def print_test(target, source, env):
-    print '***** ' + contents(source[0])
+    # print the status with colours to make it easier to see what
+    # passed and what failed
+    line = contents(source[0])
+
+    # split the line to words and get the last one
+    words = line.split()
+    status = words[-1]
+
+    # if failed make it red, if passed make it green, and skip the
+    # punctuation
+    if status == "FAILED!":
+        status = termcap.Red + status[:-1] + termcap.Normal + status[-1]
+    elif status == "passed.":
+        status = termcap.Green + status[:-1] + termcap.Normal + status[-1]
+
+    # put it back in the list and join with space
+    words[-1] = status
+    line = " ".join(words)
+
+    print '***** ' + line
     return 0
 
 printAction = env.Action(print_test, strfunction = None)