diff --git a/bridge/bridge.c b/bridge/bridge.c
index 7fcfe111..289a157d 100644
--- a/bridge/bridge.c
+++ b/bridge/bridge.c
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 			if (netns_switch(argv[1]))
 				exit(-1);
 		} else if (matches(opt, "-color") == 0) {
-			enable_color();
+			++color;
 		} else if (matches(opt, "-compressvlans") == 0) {
 			++compress_vlans;
 		} else if (matches(opt, "-force") == 0) {