diff --git a/HISTORY.rst b/HISTORY.rst
index 5f074ef9d..c3424cced 100644
--- a/HISTORY.rst
+++ b/HISTORY.rst
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 Release History
 ===============
 
+0.1.36
+++++++
+* Remove colorama reference (#321)
+
 0.1.35
 ++++++
 * Support Python 3.10 (#319)
diff --git a/azdev/__init__.py b/azdev/__init__.py
index 62c39b9f1..a4bdba154 100644
--- a/azdev/__init__.py
+++ b/azdev/__init__.py
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 # license information.
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-__VERSION__ = '0.1.35'
+__VERSION__ = '0.1.36'
diff --git a/azdev/operations/linter/linter.py b/azdev/operations/linter/linter.py
index 29f9354e2..e5f8fee9d 100644
--- a/azdev/operations/linter/linter.py
+++ b/azdev/operations/linter/linter.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from pkgutil import iter_modules
 from enum import Enum
 import yaml
-import colorama
 from knack.log import get_logger
 
 from azdev.utilities.path import get_cli_repo_path, get_ext_repo_paths
@@ -255,7 +254,6 @@ def run(self, run_params=None, run_commands=None, run_command_groups=None, run_h
                     found_rules.add(rule_name)
                     add_to_linter_func(self)
 
-        colorama.init()
         # run all rule-checks
         if run_help_files_entries and self._rules.get('help_file_entries'):
             self._run_rules('help_file_entries')
@@ -290,11 +288,15 @@ def run(self, run_params=None, run_commands=None, run_command_groups=None, run_h
                 with open(exclusion_path, 'w') as f:
                     yaml.safe_dump(exclusions, f)
 
-        colorama.deinit()
         return self.exit_code
 
     def _run_rules(self, rule_group):
-        from colorama import Fore
+        # https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/console/console-virtual-terminal-sequences#text-formatting
+        RED = '\x1b[31m'
+        GREEN = '\x1b[32m'
+        YELLOW = '\x1b[33m'
+        CYAN = '\x1b[36m'
+        RESET = '\x1b[39m'
         for rule_name, (rule_func, linter_callable, rule_severity) in self._rules.get(rule_group).items():
             severity_str = rule_severity.name
             # use new linter if needed
@@ -304,20 +306,21 @@ def _run_rules(self, rule_group):
                     violations = sorted(rule_func()) or []
                     if violations:
                         if rule_severity == LinterSeverity.HIGH:
-                            sev_color = Fore.RED
+                            sev_color = RED
                         elif rule_severity == LinterSeverity.MEDIUM:
-                            sev_color = Fore.YELLOW
+                            sev_color = YELLOW
                         else:
-                            sev_color = Fore.CYAN
+                            sev_color = CYAN
 
-                        print('- {} FAIL{} - {}{}{} severity: {}'.format(Fore.RED, Fore.RESET, sev_color,
-                                                                         severity_str, Fore.RESET, rule_name,))
+                        # pylint: disable=duplicate-string-formatting-argument
+                        print('- {} FAIL{} - {}{}{} severity: {}'.format(RED, RESET, sev_color,
+                                                                         severity_str, RESET, rule_name,))
                         for violation_msg, entity_name, name in violations:
                             print(violation_msg)
                             self._save_violations(entity_name, name)
                         print()
                     else:
-                        print('- {} pass{}: {} '.format(Fore.GREEN, Fore.RESET, rule_name))
+                        print('- {} pass{}: {} '.format(GREEN, RESET, rule_name))
 
     def _linter_severity_is_applicable(self, rule_severity, rule_name):
         if self.min_severity.value > rule_severity.value: