diff --git a/functions/colors.zsh b/functions/colors.zsh
index 253de7cb..8029c727 100644
--- a/functions/colors.zsh
+++ b/functions/colors.zsh
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 ################################################################
 
 function termColors() {
+  if [[ $POWERLEVEL9K_CHECK_TERM_COLORS == false ]]; then
+    return
+  fi
+
   local term_colors
 
   if which tput &>/dev/null; then
diff --git a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
index d5b3ef75..50735886 100755
--- a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
+++ b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
@@ -1563,6 +1563,7 @@ NEWLINE='
   [[ $POWERLEVEL9K_PROMPT_ADD_NEWLINE == true ]] && PROMPT="$NEWLINE$PROMPT"
 }
 
+set_default POWERLEVEL9K_CHECK_TERM_COLORS true
 prompt_powerlevel9k_setup() {
   # The value below was set to better support 32-bit CPUs.
   # It's the maximum _signed_ integer value on 32-bit CPUs.