diff --git a/client/devpi/main.py b/client/devpi/main.py
index a779024c9..6b431606f 100644
--- a/client/devpi/main.py
+++ b/client/devpi/main.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from base64 import b64encode
 from contextlib import closing, contextmanager
 from devpi import hookspecs
+from devpi_common.terminal import TerminalWriter
 from devpi_common.types import lazydecorator, cached_property
 from devpi_common.url import URL
 from devpi.use import PersistentCurrent
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ def get_pluginmanager(load_entry_points=True):
 
 class Hub:
     def __init__(self, args, file=None, pm=None):
-        self._tw = py.io.TerminalWriter(file=file)
+        self._tw = TerminalWriter(file)
         self.args = args
         self.cwd = py.path.local()
         self.quiet = False
diff --git a/client/pyproject.toml b/client/pyproject.toml
index 49d66ec86..0067c778e 100644
--- a/client/pyproject.toml
+++ b/client/pyproject.toml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ description = "devpi upload/install/... workflow commands for Python developers"
 dependencies = [
     "build",
     "check-manifest>=0.28",
+    "colorama;platform_system=='Windows'",
     "devpi_common<5,>=4dev",
     "iniconfig",
     "pkginfo>=1.4.2",