diff --git a/cmd/dbc/main.go b/cmd/dbc/main.go
index 7badaf20..a8692a2d 100644
--- a/cmd/dbc/main.go
+++ b/cmd/dbc/main.go
@@ -238,6 +238,9 @@ func main() {
 		args cmds
 	)
 
+	// Attempt to enable VT processing or disable colors if we can't
+	initVTProcessing()
+
 	if err := initDBCClient(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error initializing client: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/cmd/dbc/terminal.go b/cmd/dbc/terminal.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45c02433
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/dbc/terminal.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build !windows
+
+package main
+
+func initVTProcessing() {}
diff --git a/cmd/dbc/terminal_windows.go b/cmd/dbc/terminal_windows.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9b6c970
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/dbc/terminal_windows.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build windows
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"os"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+const (
+	ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING = 0x0004
+)
+
+func initVTProcessing() {
+	if !enableVTProcessing(os.Stdout) || !enableVTProcessing(os.Stderr) {
+		disableColors()
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+// enableVTProcessing attempts to enable ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING
+// on the given file handle. Returns true if successful or already enabled.
+func enableVTProcessing(f *os.File) bool {
+	handle := windows.Handle(f.Fd())
+	var mode uint32
+
+	// Get current console mode
+	err := windows.GetConsoleMode(handle, &mode)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Check if VT processing is already enabled
+	if mode&ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING != 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// Try to enable VT processing
+	newMode := mode | ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING
+	err = windows.SetConsoleMode(handle, newMode)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return true
+}
+
+// disableColors sets the NO_COLOR environment variable to disable ANSI colors.
+// lipgloss and colorprofile respect NO_COLOR automatically.
+func disableColors() {
+	os.Setenv("NO_COLOR", "1")
+}