diff --git a/pre_commit/staged_files_only.py b/pre_commit/staged_files_only.py
index 9ede8032..a2978b99 100644
--- a/pre_commit/staged_files_only.py
+++ b/pre_commit/staged_files_only.py
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ def staged_files_only(cmd_runner):
     """
     # Determine if there are unstaged files
     retcode, diff_stdout_binary, _ = cmd_runner.run(
-        ['git', 'diff', '--ignore-submodules', '--binary', '--exit-code'],
+        [
+            'git', 'diff', '--ignore-submodules', '--binary', '--exit-code',
+            '--no-color',
+        ],
         retcode=None,
         encoding=None,
     )
diff --git a/tests/staged_files_only_test.py b/tests/staged_files_only_test.py
index 620d7d92..65a47120 100644
--- a/tests/staged_files_only_test.py
+++ b/tests/staged_files_only_test.py
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ def test_foo_something_unstaged(foo_staged, cmd_runner):
     _test_foo_state(foo_staged, 'herp\nderp\n', 'AM')
 
 
+def test_foo_something_unstaged_diff_color_always(foo_staged, cmd_runner):
+    cmd_output('git', 'config', '--local', 'color.diff', 'always')
+    test_foo_something_unstaged(foo_staged, cmd_runner)
+
+
 def test_foo_both_modify_non_conflicting(foo_staged, cmd_runner):
     with io.open(foo_staged.foo_filename, 'w') as foo_file:
         foo_file.write(FOO_CONTENTS + '9\n')