diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a60e32fd..4dc72328 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ AM_PROG_CC_C_O
 _AM_DEPENDENCIES(CC)
 
 AC_ARG_VAR(NROFF, [nroff command])
-AC_CHECK_PROG(NROFF, groff, [groff -Tascii -P-c -U], nroff)
+AC_CHECK_PROG(NROFF, groff, [GROFF_NO_SGR= groff -Tascii -U], nroff)
 
 # not really a check for a program, but close enough
 if test -d $srcdir/CVS; then cvs_controlled=yes; else cvs_controlled=no; fi