diff --git a/mods/CORE/mcl_commands/api.lua b/mods/CORE/mcl_commands/api.lua
index 743c3ecfe3..287c6d5fdc 100644
--- a/mods/CORE/mcl_commands/api.lua
+++ b/mods/CORE/mcl_commands/api.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local S = minetest.get_translator("mcl_commands")
+local C = minetest.colorize
 
 local mod_death_messages = minetest.get_modpath("mcl_death_messages")
 
@@ -319,11 +320,11 @@ function mcl_commands.build(name, chat_def)
 							missing_privs_str = missing_privs_str..missing_privs[i]
 						end
 					end
-					return false, "You don't have permission to run this command (missing privilege: "..missing_privs_str..")"
+					return false, C(mcl_colors.RED, S("You don't have permission to run this command (missing privilege: "..missing_privs_str..")"))
 				end
 			end
 		end
-		return false, msg
+		return false, C(mcl_colors.RED, msg)
 	end
 	if chat_def.params then
 		cmd.params = chat_def.params