diff --git a/cheat/sheets.py b/cheat/sheets.py
index 4d494ee..383de87 100644
--- a/cheat/sheets.py
+++ b/cheat/sheets.py
@@ -86,12 +86,7 @@ def search(term):
         match = ''
         for line in open(cheatsheet[1]):
             if term in line:
-
-                # highlight the search term if CHEATCOLORS equals true
-                if 'CHEATCOLORS' in os.environ:
-                    line = highlight(term, line);
-
-                match += '  ' + line
+                match += '  ' + highlight(term, line)
 
         if match != '':
             result += cheatsheet[0] + ":\n" + match + "\n"
diff --git a/cheat/utils.py b/cheat/utils.py
index 23d75a6..77c61a5 100644
--- a/cheat/utils.py
+++ b/cheat/utils.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import sys
 def highlight(needle, haystack):
     """ Highlights a search term matched within a line """
 
-    # if colorization is not configured, exit early
-    if os.environ.get('CHEATCOLORS') != 'true':
+    # if a highlight color is not configured, exit early
+    if not 'CHEAT_HIGHLIGHT' in os.environ:
         return haystack
 
     # otherwise, attempt to import the termcolor library
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def highlight(needle, haystack):
         return haystack
 
     # if the import succeeds, colorize the needle in haystack
-    return haystack.replace(needle, colored(needle, 'blue'));
+    return haystack.replace(needle, colored(needle, os.environ.get('CHEAT_HIGHLIGHT')));
 
 def colorize(sheet_content):
     """ Colorizes cheatsheet content if so configured """