diff --git a/lib/mocha.js b/lib/mocha.js
index 06b626b631..16216ec3bf 100644
--- a/lib/mocha.js
+++ b/lib/mocha.js
@@ -690,9 +690,9 @@ Mocha.prototype.noHighlighting = function(enableHighlight) {
   utils.deprecate(
     'noHighlighting is deprecated; provide {reporterOption: {highlight: false}} to mocha.setup().'
   );
+  enableHighlight = enableHighlight === undefined ? true : enableHighlight;
   this.options.reporterOptions = this.options.reporterOptions || {};
-  this.options.reporterOptions.highlight =
-    enableHighlight !== undefined && enableHighlight !== true;
+  this.options.reporterOptions.highlight = enableHighlight !== true;
   return this;
 };