diff --git a/src/Console/Style/SymfonyStyleFactory.php b/src/Console/Style/SymfonyStyleFactory.php
index 261575652df..694f6397ddb 100644
--- a/src/Console/Style/SymfonyStyleFactory.php
+++ b/src/Console/Style/SymfonyStyleFactory.php
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ public function create(): RectorStyle
             $consoleOutput->setVerbosity(OutputInterface::VERBOSITY_QUIET);
         }
 
+        // no interactive terminal, e.g. piped output, CI or an agent - never emit ANSI, even if forced via --ansi
+        if (!defined('STDOUT') || !stream_isatty(STDOUT)) {
+            $consoleOutput->setDecorated(false);
+        }
+
         return new RectorStyle($argvInput, $consoleOutput);
     }