diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
index 665829c0d..a7f087ac8 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ rawOptsToReportOpts d rawopts =
 
     let formatstring = T.pack <$> maybestringopt "format" rawopts
         querystring  = map T.pack $ listofstringopt "args" rawopts  -- doesn't handle an arg like "" right
-        pretty = fromMaybe False $ alwaysneveropt "pretty" rawopts
+        pretty = fromMaybe False $ ynopt "pretty" rawopts
 
         format = case parseStringFormat <$> formatstring of
             Nothing         -> defaultBalanceLineFormat
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ balancecalcopt =
 balanceaccumopt :: RawOpts -> BalanceAccumulation
 balanceaccumopt = fromMaybe PerPeriod . balanceAccumulationOverride
 
-alwaysneveropt :: String -> RawOpts -> Maybe Bool
-alwaysneveropt opt rawopts = case maybestringopt opt rawopts of
+ynopt :: String -> RawOpts -> Maybe Bool
+ynopt opt rawopts = case maybestringopt opt rawopts of
     Just "always" -> Just True
     Just "yes"    -> Just True
     Just "y"      -> Just True
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
index 28309689e..09bbbebb3 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
@@ -360,8 +360,8 @@ useColorOnHandle h = unsafePerformIO $ do
   no_color       <- isJust <$> lookupEnv "NO_COLOR"
   supports_color <- hSupportsANSIColor h
   let coloroption = colorOption
-  return $ coloroption `elem` ["always","yes"]
-       || (coloroption `notElem` ["never","no"] && not no_color && supports_color)
+  return $ coloroption `elem` ["always","yes","y"]
+       || (coloroption `notElem` ["never","no","n"] && not no_color && supports_color)
 
 -- | Wrap a string in ANSI codes to set and reset foreground colour.
 -- ColorIntensity is @Dull@ or @Vivid@ (ie normal and bold).