diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index def52811..8175989a 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -265,6 +265,8 @@ CVS code -
 	  as every source file needs them. (DLR)
 	- Rename the updown enum scroll_dir and the centernone enum
 	  update_type for clarity, and add an append_type enum. (DLR)
+	- If we don't have regex.h and hence regex support, disable
+	  color support, as it depends on the use of regexes. (DLR)
 - rcfile.c:
   nregcomp()
 	- Return TRUE when the compilation succeeds and FALSE otherwise,
diff --git a/src/nano.h b/src/nano.h
index 61b8d307..1d55a242 100644
--- a/src/nano.h
+++ b/src/nano.h
@@ -135,6 +135,12 @@
 
 #define VERMSG "GNU nano " VERSION
 
+/* If we don't have regex support, turn the color support off, as it
+ * depends on the use of regexes. */
+#ifndef HAVE_REGEX_H
+#undef ENABLE_COLOR 
+#endif
+
 /* If we aren't using ncurses, turn the mouse support off, as it's
  * ncurses-specific. */
 #ifndef NCURSES_MOUSE_VERSION