diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 80ebe8e122..8af5622b8c 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ yq -P -oy sample.json
 			level := logging.WARNING
 			stringFormat := `[%{level}] %{color}%{time:15:04:05}%{color:reset} %{message}`
 
+			// when NO_COLOR environment variable presents and not an empty string the coloured output should be disabled;
+			// refer to no-color.org
+			forceNoColor = forceNoColor || os.Getenv("NO_COLOR") != ""
+
 			if verbose && forceNoColor {
 				level = logging.DEBUG
 				stringFormat = `[%{level:5.5s}] %{time:15:04:05} %{shortfile:-33s} %{shortfunc:-25s} %{message}`
@@ -90,10 +94,6 @@ yq -P -oy sample.json
 			logging.SetBackend(backend)
 			yqlib.InitExpressionParser()
 
-			// when NO_COLOR environment variable presents and not an empty string the coloured output should be disabled;
-			// refer to no-color.org
-			forceNoColor = os.Getenv("NO_COLOR") != ""
-
 			return nil
 		},
 	}