diff --git a/compat/mingw.c b/compat/mingw.c
index 25f9022b77..69f157ed75 100644
--- a/compat/mingw.c
+++ b/compat/mingw.c
@@ -657,6 +657,10 @@ char *mingw_getenv(const char *name)
 		if (!result)
 			result = getenv("TEMP");
 	}
+	else if (!result && !strcmp(name, "TERM")) {
+		/* simulate TERM to enable auto-color (see color.c) */
+		result = "winansi";
+	}
 	return result;
 }