diff --git a/userspace/src/io.c b/userspace/src/io.c
index 21ac54da6..903237bb5 100644
--- a/userspace/src/io.c
+++ b/userspace/src/io.c
@@ -35,12 +35,16 @@ static void __core_print_file(struct unit_fw *fw, FILE *filp,
 			      const char *prefix, const char *msg,
 			      const char *color)
 {
-	if (color == NULL || args(fw)->no_color)
+	const char *reset = C_RESET;
+
+	if (color == NULL || args(fw)->no_color) {
 		color = "";
+		reset = "";
+	}
 
 	fprintf(filp, "[%s%s%s] %s%s%s",
-		color, prefix, C_RESET,
-		color, msg, C_RESET);
+		color, prefix, reset,
+		color, msg, reset);
 }
 
 __attribute__((format (printf, 3, 4)))