diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index a0786badd..b8549ae21 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2274,6 +2274,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "prettytable-rs",
  "taskchampion",
  "tempdir",
+ "termcolor",
  "textwrap 0.12.1",
 ]
 
diff --git a/cli/Cargo.toml b/cli/Cargo.toml
index 949896a20..a243a5d44 100644
--- a/cli/Cargo.toml
+++ b/cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ log = "^0.4.11"
 nom = "*"
 prettytable-rs = "^0.8.0"
 textwrap = "0.12.1"
+termcolor = "1.1.2"
 
 [dependencies.config]
 default-features = false
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/add.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/add.rs
index 94ac03227..79cb5dd4b 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/add.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/add.rs
@@ -1,34 +1,42 @@
 use crate::argparse::{DescriptionMod, Modification};
 use failure::Fallible;
 use taskchampion::{Replica, Status};
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, modification: Modification) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
+    replica: &mut Replica,
+    modification: Modification,
+) -> Fallible<()> {
     let description = match modification.description {
         DescriptionMod::Set(ref s) => s.clone(),
         _ => "(no description)".to_owned(),
     };
     let t = replica.new_task(Status::Pending, description).unwrap();
-    println!("added task {}", t.get_uuid());
+    write!(w, "added task {}\n", t.get_uuid())?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::test_replica;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_add() {
+        let mut w = test_writer();
         let mut replica = test_replica();
         let modification = Modification {
             description: DescriptionMod::Set("my description".to_owned()),
             ..Default::default()
         };
-        execute(&mut replica, modification).unwrap();
+        execute(&mut w, &mut replica, modification).unwrap();
 
         // check that the task appeared..
         let task = replica.get_working_set_task(1).unwrap().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(task.get_description(), "my description");
         assert_eq!(task.get_status(), Status::Pending);
+
+        assert_eq!(w.into_string(), format!("added task {}\n", task.get_uuid()));
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/gc.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/gc.rs
index 0898c5b1b..644974eb5 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/gc.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/gc.rs
@@ -1,21 +1,23 @@
 use failure::Fallible;
 use taskchampion::Replica;
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(w: &mut W, replica: &mut Replica) -> Fallible<()> {
     replica.gc()?;
-    println!("garbage collected.");
+    write!(w, "garbage collected.\n")?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::test_replica;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_gc() {
+        let mut w = test_writer();
         let mut replica = test_replica();
-        execute(&mut replica).unwrap();
-        // this mostly just needs to not fail!
+        execute(&mut w, &mut replica).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(&w.into_string(), "garbage collected.\n")
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/help.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/help.rs
index a53e54897..a95e8415f 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/help.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/help.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,31 @@
 use crate::usage::Usage;
 use failure::Fallible;
-use std::io;
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(command_name: String, summary: bool) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
+    command_name: String,
+    summary: bool,
+) -> Fallible<()> {
     let usage = Usage::new();
-    usage.write_help(io::stdout(), command_name, summary)?;
+    usage.write_help(w, command_name, summary)?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_summary() {
-        execute("task".to_owned(), true).unwrap();
+        let mut w = test_writer();
+        execute(&mut w, "task".to_owned(), true).unwrap();
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn test_long() {
-        execute("task".to_owned(), false).unwrap();
+        let mut w = test_writer();
+        execute(&mut w, "task".to_owned(), false).unwrap();
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/info.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/info.rs
index 20887587e..852c8faa9 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/info.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/info.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,14 @@ use crate::table;
 use failure::Fallible;
 use prettytable::{cell, row, Table};
 use taskchampion::Replica;
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, filter: Filter, debug: bool) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
+    replica: &mut Replica,
+    filter: Filter,
+    debug: bool,
+) -> Fallible<()> {
     for task in filtered_tasks(replica, &filter)? {
         let uuid = task.get_uuid();
 
@@ -25,7 +31,7 @@ pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, filter: Filter, debug: bool) -> Fal
             t.add_row(row![b->"Status", task.get_status()]);
             t.add_row(row![b->"Active", task.is_active()]);
         }
-        t.printstd();
+        t.print(w)?;
     }
 
     Ok(())
@@ -34,16 +40,22 @@ pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, filter: Filter, debug: bool) -> Fal
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::test_replica;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
+    use taskchampion::Status;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_info() {
+        let mut w = test_writer();
         let mut replica = test_replica();
+        replica
+            .new_task(Status::Pending, "my task".to_owned())
+            .unwrap();
+
         let filter = Filter {
             ..Default::default()
         };
         let debug = false;
-        execute(&mut replica, filter, debug).unwrap();
-        // output is to stdout, so this is as much as we can check
+        execute(&mut w, &mut replica, filter, debug).unwrap();
+        assert!(w.into_string().contains("my task"));
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/list.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/list.rs
index 774200f21..4afcdab93 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/list.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/list.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@ use crate::table;
 use failure::Fallible;
 use prettytable::{cell, row, Table};
 use taskchampion::Replica;
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, report: Report) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
+    replica: &mut Replica,
+    report: Report,
+) -> Fallible<()> {
     let mut t = Table::new();
     t.set_format(table::format());
     t.set_titles(row![b->"id", b->"act", b->"description"]);
@@ -21,7 +26,7 @@ pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, report: Report) -> Fallible<()> {
         };
         t.add_row(row![id, active, task.get_description()]);
     }
-    t.printstd();
+    t.print(w)?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -29,17 +34,23 @@ pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, report: Report) -> Fallible<()> {
 mod test {
     use super::*;
     use crate::argparse::Filter;
-    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::test_replica;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
+    use taskchampion::Status;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_list() {
+        let mut w = test_writer();
         let mut replica = test_replica();
+        replica
+            .new_task(Status::Pending, "my task".to_owned())
+            .unwrap();
+
         let report = Report {
             filter: Filter {
                 ..Default::default()
             },
         };
-        execute(&mut replica, report).unwrap();
-        // output is to stdout, so this is as much as we can check
+        execute(&mut w, &mut replica, report).unwrap();
+        assert!(w.into_string().contains("my task"));
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/modify.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/modify.rs
index 48e122437..dadcd9319 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/modify.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/modify.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ use crate::argparse::{Filter, Modification};
 use crate::invocation::{apply_modification, filtered_tasks};
 use failure::Fallible;
 use taskchampion::Replica;
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
     replica: &mut Replica,
     filter: Filter,
     modification: Modification,
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ pub(crate) fn execute(
     for task in filtered_tasks(replica, &filter)? {
         let mut task = task.into_mut(replica);
 
-        apply_modification(&mut task, &modification)?;
+        apply_modification(w, &mut task, &modification)?;
     }
 
     Ok(())
@@ -22,10 +24,12 @@ mod test {
     use super::*;
     use crate::argparse::DescriptionMod;
     use crate::invocation::cmd::test::test_replica;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
     use taskchampion::Status;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_modify() {
+        let mut w = test_writer();
         let mut replica = test_replica();
 
         let task = replica
@@ -39,11 +43,16 @@ mod test {
             description: DescriptionMod::Set("new description".to_owned()),
             ..Default::default()
         };
-        execute(&mut replica, filter, modification).unwrap();
+        execute(&mut w, &mut replica, filter, modification).unwrap();
 
         // check that the task appeared..
         let task = replica.get_task(task.get_uuid()).unwrap().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(task.get_description(), "new description");
         assert_eq!(task.get_status(), Status::Pending);
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            w.into_string(),
+            format!("modified task {}\n", task.get_uuid())
+        );
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/sync.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/sync.rs
index 6ce65b88b..737406ae9 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/sync.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/sync.rs
@@ -1,26 +1,32 @@
 use failure::Fallible;
 use taskchampion::{server::Server, Replica};
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
-pub(crate) fn execute(replica: &mut Replica, server: &mut Box<dyn Server>) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
+    replica: &mut Replica,
+    server: &mut Box<dyn Server>,
+) -> Fallible<()> {
     replica.sync(server)?;
-    println!("sync complete.");
+    write!(w, "sync complete.\n")?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::{test_replica, test_server};
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
     use tempdir::TempDir;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_add() {
+        let mut w = test_writer();
         let mut replica = test_replica();
         let server_dir = TempDir::new("test").unwrap();
         let mut server = test_server(&server_dir);
 
-        // this just has to not fail -- the details of the actual sync are
-        // tested thoroughly in the taskchampion crate
-        execute(&mut replica, &mut server).unwrap();
+        // Note that the details of the actual sync are tested thoroughly in the taskchampion crate
+        execute(&mut w, &mut replica, &mut server).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(&w.into_string(), "sync complete.\n")
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/test.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/test.rs
index 1ff17fd68..8f32723b0 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/test.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/test.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use std::io;
 use taskchampion::{server, taskstorage, Replica, ServerConfig};
 use tempdir::TempDir;
 
@@ -12,3 +13,38 @@ pub(super) fn test_server(dir: &TempDir) -> Box<dyn server::Server> {
     })
     .unwrap()
 }
+
+pub(super) struct TestWriter {
+    data: Vec<u8>,
+}
+
+impl TestWriter {
+    pub(super) fn into_string(self) -> String {
+        String::from_utf8(self.data).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+impl io::Write for TestWriter {
+    fn write(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        self.data.write(buf)
+    }
+    fn flush(&mut self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.data.flush()
+    }
+}
+
+impl termcolor::WriteColor for TestWriter {
+    fn supports_color(&self) -> bool {
+        false
+    }
+    fn set_color(&mut self, _spec: &termcolor::ColorSpec) -> io::Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    fn reset(&mut self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) fn test_writer() -> TestWriter {
+    TestWriter { data: vec![] }
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/version.rs b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/version.rs
index ace90b2ea..8a74a7681 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/cmd/version.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/cmd/version.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
 use failure::Fallible;
+use termcolor::{ColorSpec, WriteColor};
 
-pub(crate) fn execute() -> Fallible<()> {
-    println!("TaskChampion {}", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"));
+pub(crate) fn execute<W: WriteColor>(w: &mut W) -> Fallible<()> {
+    write!(w, "TaskChampion ")?;
+    w.set_color(ColorSpec::new().set_bold(true))?;
+    write!(w, "{}\n", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"))?;
+    w.reset()?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
+    use crate::invocation::cmd::test::*;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_version() {
-        execute().unwrap();
+        let mut w = test_writer();
+        execute(&mut w).unwrap();
+        assert!(w.into_string().starts_with("TaskChampion "));
     }
 }
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/mod.rs b/cli/src/invocation/mod.rs
index 42818c142..ec04b3ac1 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/mod.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use crate::argparse::{Command, Subcommand};
 use config::Config;
 use failure::Fallible;
 use taskchampion::{server, Replica, ReplicaConfig, ServerConfig, Uuid};
+use termcolor::{ColorChoice, StandardStream};
 
 mod cmd;
 mod filter;
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ pub(crate) fn invoke(command: Command, settings: Config) -> Fallible<()> {
     log::debug!("command: {:?}", command);
     log::debug!("settings: {:?}", settings);
 
+    let mut w = StandardStream::stdout(ColorChoice::Auto);
+
     // This function examines the command and breaks out the necessary bits to call one of the
     // `execute` functions in a submodule of `cmd`.
 
@@ -26,11 +29,11 @@ pub(crate) fn invoke(command: Command, settings: Config) -> Fallible<()> {
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::Help { summary },
             command_name,
-        } => return cmd::help::execute(command_name, summary),
+        } => return cmd::help::execute(&mut w, command_name, summary),
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::Version,
             ..
-        } => return cmd::version::execute(),
+        } => return cmd::version::execute(&mut w),
         _ => {}
     };
 
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ pub(crate) fn invoke(command: Command, settings: Config) -> Fallible<()> {
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::Add { modification },
             ..
-        } => return cmd::add::execute(&mut replica, modification),
+        } => return cmd::add::execute(&mut w, &mut replica, modification),
 
         Command {
             subcommand:
@@ -48,29 +51,29 @@ pub(crate) fn invoke(command: Command, settings: Config) -> Fallible<()> {
                     modification,
                 },
             ..
-        } => return cmd::modify::execute(&mut replica, filter, modification),
+        } => return cmd::modify::execute(&mut w, &mut replica, filter, modification),
 
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::List { report },
             ..
-        } => return cmd::list::execute(&mut replica, report),
+        } => return cmd::list::execute(&mut w, &mut replica, report),
 
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::Info { filter, debug },
             ..
-        } => return cmd::info::execute(&mut replica, filter, debug),
+        } => return cmd::info::execute(&mut w, &mut replica, filter, debug),
 
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::Gc,
             ..
-        } => return cmd::gc::execute(&mut replica),
+        } => return cmd::gc::execute(&mut w, &mut replica),
 
         Command {
             subcommand: Subcommand::Sync,
             ..
         } => {
             let mut server = get_server(&settings)?;
-            return cmd::sync::execute(&mut replica, &mut server);
+            return cmd::sync::execute(&mut w, &mut replica, &mut server);
         }
 
         // handled in the first match, but here to ensure this match is exhaustive
diff --git a/cli/src/invocation/modify.rs b/cli/src/invocation/modify.rs
index a1fa7c70b..29802dbab 100644
--- a/cli/src/invocation/modify.rs
+++ b/cli/src/invocation/modify.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 use crate::argparse::{DescriptionMod, Modification};
 use failure::Fallible;
 use taskchampion::TaskMut;
+use termcolor::WriteColor;
 
 /// Apply the given modification
-pub(super) fn apply_modification(task: &mut TaskMut, modification: &Modification) -> Fallible<()> {
+pub(super) fn apply_modification<W: WriteColor>(
+    w: &mut W,
+    task: &mut TaskMut,
+    modification: &Modification,
+) -> Fallible<()> {
     match modification.description {
         DescriptionMod::Set(ref description) => task.set_description(description.clone())?,
         DescriptionMod::Prepend(ref description) => {
@@ -27,7 +32,7 @@ pub(super) fn apply_modification(task: &mut TaskMut, modification: &Modification
         task.stop()?;
     }
 
-    println!("modified task {}", task.get_uuid());
+    write!(w, "modified task {}\n", task.get_uuid())?;
 
     Ok(())
 }