diff --git a/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim b/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim
index af5ed8b..2524c20 100644
--- a/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim
+++ b/autoload/gitgutter/diff.vim
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 let s:grep_available = executable('grep')
-let s:grep_command = ' | '.(g:gitgutter_escape_grep ? '\grep' : 'grep').' --color=never -e '.gitgutter#utility#shellescape('^@@ ')
+if s:grep_available
+  let s:grep_command = ' | '.(g:gitgutter_escape_grep ? '\grep' : 'grep')
+  let s:grep_help = gitgutter#utility#system('grep --help')
+  if s:grep_help =~# '--color'
+    let s:grep_command .= ' --color=never'
+  endif
+  let s:grep_command .= ' -e '.gitgutter#utility#shellescape('^@@ ')
+endif
 let s:hunk_re = '^@@ -\(\d\+\),\?\(\d*\) +\(\d\+\),\?\(\d*\) @@'