diff --git a/builtin-commit.c b/builtin-commit.c
index 977ea09c51..2f0b00a174 100644
--- a/builtin-commit.c
+++ b/builtin-commit.c
@@ -865,6 +865,9 @@ int cmd_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (wt_status_use_color == -1)
 		wt_status_use_color = git_use_color_default;
 
+	if (diff_use_color_default == -1)
+		diff_use_color_default = git_use_color_default;
+
 	argc = parse_and_validate_options(argc, argv, builtin_status_usage, prefix);
 
 	index_file = prepare_index(argc, argv, prefix);
@@ -944,6 +947,9 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	git_config(git_commit_config, NULL);
 
+	if (wt_status_use_color == -1)
+		wt_status_use_color = git_use_color_default;
+
 	argc = parse_and_validate_options(argc, argv, builtin_commit_usage, prefix);
 
 	index_file = prepare_index(argc, argv, prefix);