diff --git a/django/core/management/color.py b/django/core/management/color.py
index 40fd4e7fdd..337e0f2e68 100644
--- a/django/core/management/color.py
+++ b/django/core/management/color.py
@@ -6,10 +6,22 @@ import sys
 
 from django.utils import termcolors
 
+def supports_color():
+    """
+    Returns True if the running system's terminal supports color, and False
+    otherwise.
+    """
+    unsupported_platform = (sys.platform in ('win32', 'Pocket PC')
+                            or sys.platform.startswith('java'))
+    # isatty is not always implemented, #6223.
+    is_a_tty = hasattr(sys.stdout, 'isatty') and sys.stdout.isatty()
+    if unsupported_platform or not is_a_tty:
+        return False
+    return True
+
 def color_style():
     """Returns a Style object with the Django color scheme."""
-    if (sys.platform == 'win32' or sys.platform == 'Pocket PC'
-        or sys.platform.startswith('java') or not sys.stdout.isatty()):
+    if not supports_color():
         return no_style()
     class dummy: pass
     style = dummy()