diff --git a/lib/commands/explain.js b/lib/commands/explain.js
index a06ad24152a1e..44c32c0e5663a 100644
--- a/lib/commands/explain.js
+++ b/lib/commands/explain.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class Explain extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
       this.npm.output(JSON.stringify(expls, null, 2))
     } else {
       this.npm.output(expls.map(expl => {
-        return explainNode(expl, Infinity, this.npm.color)
+        return explainNode(expl, Infinity, this.npm.chalk)
       }).join('\n\n'))
     }
   }
diff --git a/lib/commands/fund.js b/lib/commands/fund.js
index 12762533c123e..479ff487ec8b0 100644
--- a/lib/commands/fund.js
+++ b/lib/commands/fund.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const archy = require('archy')
 const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const pacote = require('pacote')
 const semver = require('semver')
 const npa = require('npm-package-arg')
@@ -96,7 +95,6 @@ class Fund extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   }
 
   printHuman (fundingInfo) {
-    const color = this.npm.color
     const unicode = this.npm.config.get('unicode')
     const seenUrls = new Map()
 
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ class Fund extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
 
         if (url) {
           item.label = tree({
-            label: color ? chalk.bgBlack.white(url) : url,
+            label: this.npm.chalk.bgBlack.white(url),
             nodes: [pkgRef],
           }).trim()
 
@@ -154,7 +152,7 @@ class Fund extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     })
 
     const res = tree(result)
-    return color ? chalk.reset(res) : res
+    return this.npm.chalk.reset(res)
   }
 
   async openFundingUrl ({ path, tree, spec, fundingSourceNumber }) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/help-search.js b/lib/commands/help-search.js
index 1e69b9784e8f4..0a706be70a067 100644
--- a/lib/commands/help-search.js
+++ b/lib/commands/help-search.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const { readFile } = require('fs/promises')
 const path = require('path')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const glob = require('glob')
 const BaseCommand = require('../base-command.js')
 
@@ -163,10 +162,6 @@ class HelpSearch extends BaseCommand {
           return
         }
 
-        if (!this.npm.color) {
-          out.push(line + '\n')
-          return
-        }
         const hilitLine = []
         for (const arg of args) {
           const finder = line.toLowerCase().split(arg.toLowerCase())
@@ -174,7 +169,7 @@ class HelpSearch extends BaseCommand {
           for (const f of finder) {
             hilitLine.push(line.slice(p, p + f.length))
             const word = line.slice(p + f.length, p + f.length + arg.length)
-            const hilit = chalk.bgBlack.red(word)
+            const hilit = this.npm.chalk.bgBlack.red(word)
             hilitLine.push(hilit)
             p += f.length + arg.length
           }
diff --git a/lib/commands/ls.js b/lib/commands/ls.js
index 2213e7937407a..a737f44b73b29 100644
--- a/lib/commands/ls.js
+++ b/lib/commands/ls.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ const relativePrefix = `.${sep}`
 const { EOL } = require('os')
 
 const archy = require('archy')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const { breadth } = require('treeverse')
 const npa = require('npm-package-arg')
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ class LS extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
 
   async exec (args) {
     const all = this.npm.config.get('all')
-    const color = this.npm.color
+    const chalk = this.npm.chalk
     const depth = this.npm.config.get('depth')
     const global = this.npm.global
     const json = this.npm.config.get('json')
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@ class LS extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
           ? getJsonOutputItem(node, { global, long })
           : parseable
             ? null
-            : getHumanOutputItem(node, { args, color, global, long })
+            : getHumanOutputItem(node, { args, chalk, global, long })
 
         // loop through list of node problems to add them to global list
         if (node[_include]) {
@@ -180,7 +179,7 @@ class LS extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     this.npm.outputBuffer(
       json ? jsonOutput({ path, problems, result, rootError, seenItems }) :
       parseable ? parseableOutput({ seenNodes, global, long }) :
-      humanOutput({ color, result, seenItems, unicode })
+      humanOutput({ chalk, result, seenItems, unicode })
     )
 
     // if filtering items, should exit with error code on no results
@@ -278,9 +277,9 @@ const augmentItemWithIncludeMetadata = (node, item) => {
   return item
 }
 
-const getHumanOutputItem = (node, { args, color, global, long }) => {
+const getHumanOutputItem = (node, { args, chalk, global, long }) => {
   const { pkgid, path } = node
-  const workspacePkgId = color ? chalk.green(pkgid) : pkgid
+  const workspacePkgId = chalk.green(pkgid)
   let printable = node.isWorkspace ? workspacePkgId : pkgid
 
   // special formatting for top-level package name
@@ -293,8 +292,7 @@ const getHumanOutputItem = (node, { args, color, global, long }) => {
     }
   }
 
-  const highlightDepName =
-    color && args.length && node[_filteredBy]
+  const highlightDepName = args.length && node[_filteredBy]
   const missingColor = isOptional(node)
     ? chalk.yellow.bgBlack
     : chalk.red.bgBlack
@@ -308,28 +306,28 @@ const getHumanOutputItem = (node, { args, color, global, long }) => {
   const label =
     (
       node[_missing]
-        ? (color ? missingColor(missingMsg) : missingMsg) + ' '
+        ? missingColor(missingMsg) + ' '
         : ''
     ) +
     `${highlightDepName ? chalk.yellow.bgBlack(printable) : printable}` +
     (
       node[_dedupe]
-        ? ' ' + (color ? chalk.gray('deduped') : 'deduped')
+        ? ' ' + chalk.gray('deduped')
         : ''
     ) +
     (
       invalid
-        ? ' ' + (color ? chalk.red.bgBlack(invalid) : invalid)
+        ? ' ' + chalk.red.bgBlack(invalid)
         : ''
     ) +
     (
       isExtraneous(node, { global })
-        ? ' ' + (color ? chalk.green.bgBlack('extraneous') : 'extraneous')
+        ? ' ' + chalk.green.bgBlack('extraneous')
         : ''
     ) +
     (
       node.overridden
-        ? ' ' + (color ? chalk.gray('overridden') : 'overridden')
+        ? ' ' + chalk.gray('overridden')
         : ''
     ) +
     (isGitNode(node) ? ` (${node.resolved})` : '') +
@@ -504,7 +502,7 @@ const augmentNodesWithMetadata = ({
 
 const sortAlphabetically = ({ pkgid: a }, { pkgid: b }) => localeCompare(a, b)
 
-const humanOutput = ({ color, result, seenItems, unicode }) => {
+const humanOutput = ({ chalk, result, seenItems, unicode }) => {
   // we need to traverse the entire tree in order to determine which items
   // should be included (since a nested transitive included dep will make it
   // so that all its ancestors should be displayed)
@@ -520,7 +518,7 @@ const humanOutput = ({ color, result, seenItems, unicode }) => {
   }
 
   const archyOutput = archy(result, '', { unicode })
-  return color ? chalk.reset(archyOutput) : archyOutput
+  return chalk.reset(archyOutput)
 }
 
 const jsonOutput = ({ path, problems, result, rootError, seenItems }) => {
diff --git a/lib/commands/outdated.js b/lib/commands/outdated.js
index 5e8a4e0d2168c..49626ebd5e20e 100644
--- a/lib/commands/outdated.js
+++ b/lib/commands/outdated.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ const os = require('os')
 const { resolve } = require('path')
 const pacote = require('pacote')
 const table = require('text-table')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const npa = require('npm-package-arg')
 const pickManifest = require('npm-pick-manifest')
 const localeCompare = require('@isaacs/string-locale-compare')('en')
@@ -104,9 +103,7 @@ class Outdated extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
       }
       const outTable = [outHead].concat(outList)
 
-      if (this.npm.color) {
-        outTable[0] = outTable[0].map(heading => chalk.underline(heading))
-      }
+      outTable[0] = outTable[0].map(heading => this.npm.chalk.underline(heading))
 
       const tableOpts = {
         align: ['l', 'r', 'r', 'r', 'l'],
@@ -281,8 +278,8 @@ class Outdated extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
         ? node.pkgid
         : node.name
 
-    return this.npm.color && humanOutput
-      ? chalk.green(workspaceName)
+    return humanOutput
+      ? this.npm.chalk.green(workspaceName)
       : workspaceName
   }
 
@@ -306,11 +303,9 @@ class Outdated extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
       columns[7] = homepage
     }
 
-    if (this.npm.color) {
-      columns[0] = chalk[current === wanted ? 'yellow' : 'red'](columns[0]) // current
-      columns[2] = chalk.green(columns[2]) // wanted
-      columns[3] = chalk.magenta(columns[3]) // latest
-    }
+    columns[0] = this.npm.chalk[current === wanted ? 'yellow' : 'red'](columns[0]) // current
+    columns[2] = this.npm.chalk.green(columns[2]) // wanted
+    columns[3] = this.npm.chalk.magenta(columns[3]) // latest
 
     return columns
   }
diff --git a/lib/commands/profile.js b/lib/commands/profile.js
index e42ebb276d202..4fba1209e0335 100644
--- a/lib/commands/profile.js
+++ b/lib/commands/profile.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const inspect = require('util').inspect
 const { URL } = require('url')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const log = require('../utils/log-shim.js')
 const npmProfile = require('npm-profile')
 const qrcodeTerminal = require('qrcode-terminal')
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ class Profile extends BaseCommand {
       } else {
         const table = new Table()
         for (const key of Object.keys(cleaned)) {
-          table.push({ [chalk.bold(key)]: cleaned[key] })
+          table.push({ [this.npm.chalk.bold(key)]: cleaned[key] })
         }
 
         this.npm.output(table.toString())
diff --git a/lib/commands/run-script.js b/lib/commands/run-script.js
index 40e18e1ea0644..e1bce0e52a513 100644
--- a/lib/commands/run-script.js
+++ b/lib/commands/run-script.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const { resolve } = require('path')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const runScript = require('@npmcli/run-script')
 const { isServerPackage } = runScript
 const rpj = require('read-package-json-fast')
@@ -18,14 +17,6 @@ const cmdList = [
   'version',
 ].reduce((l, p) => l.concat(['pre' + p, p, 'post' + p]), [])
 
-const nocolor = {
-  reset: s => s,
-  bold: s => s,
-  dim: s => s,
-  blue: s => s,
-  green: s => s,
-}
-
 const BaseCommand = require('../base-command.js')
 class RunScript extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Run arbitrary package scripts'
@@ -138,7 +129,6 @@ class RunScript extends BaseCommand {
     path = path || this.npm.localPrefix
     const { scripts, name, _id } = await rpj(`${path}/package.json`)
     const pkgid = _id || name
-    const color = this.npm.color
 
     if (!scripts) {
       return []
@@ -170,7 +160,7 @@ class RunScript extends BaseCommand {
       const list = cmdList.includes(script) ? cmds : runScripts
       list.push(script)
     }
-    const colorize = color ? chalk : nocolor
+    const colorize = this.npm.chalk
 
     if (cmds.length) {
       this.npm.output(
diff --git a/lib/commands/token.js b/lib/commands/token.js
index 8da8311875714..bc2e4f3796364 100644
--- a/lib/commands/token.js
+++ b/lib/commands/token.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const Table = require('cli-table3')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const { v4: isCidrV4, v6: isCidrV6 } = require('is-cidr')
 const log = require('../utils/log-shim.js')
 const profile = require('npm-profile')
@@ -152,7 +151,7 @@ class Token extends BaseCommand {
     } else {
       const table = new Table()
       for (const k of Object.keys(result)) {
-        table.push({ [chalk.bold(k)]: String(result[k]) })
+        table.push({ [this.npm.chalk.bold(k)]: String(result[k]) })
       }
       this.npm.output(table.toString())
     }
diff --git a/lib/commands/view.js b/lib/commands/view.js
index 855b37b81d42f..bbe7dcdd18bbf 100644
--- a/lib/commands/view.js
+++ b/lib/commands/view.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-const chalk = require('chalk')
 const columns = require('cli-columns')
 const fs = require('fs')
 const jsonParse = require('json-parse-even-better-errors')
@@ -315,6 +314,7 @@ class View extends BaseCommand {
   prettyView (packu, manifest) {
     // More modern, pretty printing of default view
     const unicode = this.npm.config.get('unicode')
+    const chalk = this.npm.chalk
     const tags = []
 
     Object.keys(packu['dist-tags']).forEach((t) => {
diff --git a/lib/npm.js b/lib/npm.js
index 841d145ddcbad..155a768496550 100644
--- a/lib/npm.js
+++ b/lib/npm.js
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ class Npm extends EventEmitter {
   #title = 'npm'
   #argvClean = []
   #chalk = null
+  #logChalk = null
+  #noColorChalk = new chalk.Instance({ level: 0 })
   #npmRoot = null
   #warnedNonDashArg = false
 
@@ -248,6 +250,7 @@ class Npm extends EventEmitter {
       this.#display.load({
         // Use logColor since that is based on stderr
         color: this.logColor,
+        chalk: this.logChalk,
         progress: this.flatOptions.progress,
         silent: this.silent,
         timing: this.config.get('timing'),
@@ -317,17 +320,28 @@ class Npm extends EventEmitter {
     return this.flatOptions.logColor
   }
 
+  get noColorChalk () {
+    return this.#noColorChalk
+  }
+
   get chalk () {
     if (!this.#chalk) {
-      let level = chalk.level
-      if (!this.color) {
-        level = 0
-      }
-      this.#chalk = new chalk.Instance({ level })
+      this.#chalk = new chalk.Instance({
+        level: this.color ? chalk.level : 0,
+      })
     }
     return this.#chalk
   }
 
+  get logChalk () {
+    if (!this.#logChalk) {
+      this.#logChalk = new chalk.Instance({
+        level: this.logColor ? chalk.stderr.level : 0,
+      })
+    }
+    return this.#logChalk
+  }
+
   get global () {
     return this.config.get('global') || this.config.get('location') === 'global'
   }
diff --git a/lib/utils/display.js b/lib/utils/display.js
index 35d221c09cae8..a41bf903e9a8f 100644
--- a/lib/utils/display.js
+++ b/lib/utils/display.js
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ const log = require('./log-shim.js')
 const { explain } = require('./explain-eresolve.js')
 
 class Display {
+  #chalk = null
+
   constructor () {
     // pause by default until config is loaded
     this.on()
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ class Display {
   load (config) {
     const {
       color,
+      chalk,
       timing,
       loglevel,
       unicode,
@@ -34,6 +37,8 @@ class Display {
       heading = 'npm',
     } = config
 
+    this.#chalk = chalk
+
     // npmlog is still going away someday, so this is a hack to dynamically
     // set the loglevel of timing based on the timing flag, instead of making
     // a breaking change to npmlog. The result is that timing logs are never
@@ -111,7 +116,7 @@ class Display {
         expl && typeof expl === 'object'
     ) {
       this.#npmlog(level, heading, message)
-      this.#npmlog(level, '', explain(expl, log.useColor(), 2))
+      this.#npmlog(level, '', explain(expl, this.#chalk, 2))
       // Return true to short circuit other log in chain
       return true
     }
diff --git a/lib/utils/error-message.js b/lib/utils/error-message.js
index 85a40bb32e0d7..a2cdb0aa48068 100644
--- a/lib/utils/error-message.js
+++ b/lib/utils/error-message.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ const errorMessage = (er, npm) => {
       // XXX(display): error messages are logged so we use the logColor since that is based
       // on stderr. This should be handled solely by the display layer so it could also be
       // printed to stdout if necessary.
-      const { explanation, file } = report(er, !!npm.logColor)
+      const { explanation, file } = report(er, npm.logChalk, npm.noColorChalk)
       detail.push(['', explanation])
       files.push(['eresolve-report.txt', file])
       break
diff --git a/lib/utils/explain-dep.js b/lib/utils/explain-dep.js
index 58258026491dc..86660d5d3ad4b 100644
--- a/lib/utils/explain-dep.js
+++ b/lib/utils/explain-dep.js
@@ -1,25 +1,12 @@
-const chalk = require('chalk')
-const nocolor = {
-  bold: s => s,
-  dim: s => s,
-  red: s => s,
-  yellow: s => s,
-  cyan: s => s,
-  magenta: s => s,
-  blue: s => s,
-  green: s => s,
-  gray: s => s,
-}
-
 const { relative } = require('path')
 
-const explainNode = (node, depth, color) =>
-  printNode(node, color) +
-  explainDependents(node, depth, color) +
-  explainLinksIn(node, depth, color)
+const explainNode = (node, depth, chalk) =>
+  printNode(node, chalk) +
+  explainDependents(node, depth, chalk) +
+  explainLinksIn(node, depth, chalk)
 
-const colorType = (type, color) => {
-  const { red, yellow, cyan, magenta, blue, green, gray } = color ? chalk : nocolor
+const colorType = (type, chalk) => {
+  const { red, yellow, cyan, magenta, blue, green, gray } = chalk
   const style = type === 'extraneous' ? red
     : type === 'dev' ? yellow
     : type === 'optional' ? cyan
@@ -31,7 +18,7 @@ const colorType = (type, color) => {
   return style(type)
 }
 
-const printNode = (node, color) => {
+const printNode = (node, chalk) => {
   const {
     name,
     version,
@@ -44,30 +31,30 @@ const printNode = (node, color) => {
     isWorkspace,
     overridden,
   } = node
-  const { bold, dim, green } = color ? chalk : nocolor
+  const { bold, dim, green } = chalk
   const extra = []
   if (extraneous) {
-    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('extraneous', color)))
+    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('extraneous', chalk)))
   }
 
   if (dev) {
-    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('dev', color)))
+    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('dev', chalk)))
   }
 
   if (optional) {
-    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('optional', color)))
+    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('optional', chalk)))
   }
 
   if (peer) {
-    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('peer', color)))
+    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('peer', chalk)))
   }
 
   if (bundled) {
-    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('bundled', color)))
+    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('bundled', chalk)))
   }
 
   if (overridden) {
-    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('overridden', color)))
+    extra.push(' ' + bold(colorType('overridden', chalk)))
   }
 
   const pkgid = isWorkspace
@@ -78,24 +65,24 @@ const printNode = (node, color) => {
     (location ? dim(`\n${location}`) : '')
 }
 
-const explainLinksIn = ({ linksIn }, depth, color) => {
+const explainLinksIn = ({ linksIn }, depth, chalk) => {
   if (!linksIn || !linksIn.length || depth <= 0) {
     return ''
   }
 
-  const messages = linksIn.map(link => explainNode(link, depth - 1, color))
+  const messages = linksIn.map(link => explainNode(link, depth - 1, chalk))
   const str = '\n' + messages.join('\n')
   return str.split('\n').join('\n  ')
 }
 
-const explainDependents = ({ name, dependents }, depth, color) => {
+const explainDependents = ({ name, dependents }, depth, chalk) => {
   if (!dependents || !dependents.length || depth <= 0) {
     return ''
   }
 
   const max = Math.ceil(depth / 2)
   const messages = dependents.slice(0, max)
-    .map(edge => explainEdge(edge, depth, color))
+    .map(edge => explainEdge(edge, depth, chalk))
 
   // show just the names of the first 5 deps that overflowed the list
   if (dependents.length > max) {
@@ -119,30 +106,30 @@ const explainDependents = ({ name, dependents }, depth, color) => {
   return str.split('\n').join('\n  ')
 }
 
-const explainEdge = ({ name, type, bundled, from, spec, rawSpec, overridden }, depth, color) => {
-  const { bold } = color ? chalk : nocolor
+const explainEdge = ({ name, type, bundled, from, spec, rawSpec, overridden }, depth, chalk) => {
+  const { bold } = chalk
   let dep = type === 'workspace'
     ? bold(relative(from.location, spec.slice('file:'.length)))
     : `${bold(name)}@"${bold(spec)}"`
   if (overridden) {
-    dep = `${colorType('overridden', color)} ${dep} (was "${rawSpec}")`
+    dep = `${colorType('overridden', chalk)} ${dep} (was "${rawSpec}")`
   }
 
-  const fromMsg = ` from ${explainFrom(from, depth, color)}`
+  const fromMsg = ` from ${explainFrom(from, depth, chalk)}`
 
-  return (type === 'prod' ? '' : `${colorType(type, color)} `) +
-    (bundled ? `${colorType('bundled', color)} ` : '') +
+  return (type === 'prod' ? '' : `${colorType(type, chalk)} `) +
+    (bundled ? `${colorType('bundled', chalk)} ` : '') +
     `${dep}${fromMsg}`
 }
 
-const explainFrom = (from, depth, color) => {
+const explainFrom = (from, depth, chalk) => {
   if (!from.name && !from.version) {
     return 'the root project'
   }
 
-  return printNode(from, color) +
-    explainDependents(from, depth - 1, color) +
-    explainLinksIn(from, depth - 1, color)
+  return printNode(from, chalk) +
+    explainDependents(from, depth - 1, chalk) +
+    explainLinksIn(from, depth - 1, chalk)
 }
 
 module.exports = { explainNode, printNode, explainEdge }
diff --git a/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js b/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js
index 480cd8e5cd4e6..ba46f3480adb3 100644
--- a/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js
+++ b/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ const { explainEdge, explainNode, printNode } = require('./explain-dep.js')
 // Depth is how far we want to want to descend into the object making a report.
 // The full report (ie, depth=Infinity) is always written to the cache folder
 // at ${cache}/eresolve-report.txt along with full json.
-const explain = (expl, color, depth) => {
+const explain = (expl, chalk, depth) => {
   const { edge, dep, current, peerConflict, currentEdge } = expl
 
   const out = []
@@ -15,28 +15,28 @@ const explain = (expl, color, depth) => {
     current && current.whileInstalling ||
     edge && edge.from && edge.from.whileInstalling
   if (whileInstalling) {
-    out.push('While resolving: ' + printNode(whileInstalling, color))
+    out.push('While resolving: ' + printNode(whileInstalling, chalk))
   }
 
   // it "should" be impossible for an ERESOLVE explanation to lack both
   // current and currentEdge, but better to have a less helpful error
   // than a crashing failure.
   if (current) {
-    out.push('Found: ' + explainNode(current, depth, color))
+    out.push('Found: ' + explainNode(current, depth, chalk))
   } else if (peerConflict && peerConflict.current) {
-    out.push('Found: ' + explainNode(peerConflict.current, depth, color))
+    out.push('Found: ' + explainNode(peerConflict.current, depth, chalk))
   } else if (currentEdge) {
-    out.push('Found: ' + explainEdge(currentEdge, depth, color))
+    out.push('Found: ' + explainEdge(currentEdge, depth, chalk))
   } else /* istanbul ignore else - should always have one */ if (edge) {
-    out.push('Found: ' + explainEdge(edge, depth, color))
+    out.push('Found: ' + explainEdge(edge, depth, chalk))
   }
 
   out.push('\nCould not resolve dependency:\n' +
-    explainEdge(edge, depth, color))
+    explainEdge(edge, depth, chalk))
 
   if (peerConflict) {
     const heading = '\nConflicting peer dependency:'
-    const pc = explainNode(peerConflict.peer, depth, color)
+    const pc = explainNode(peerConflict.peer, depth, chalk)
     out.push(heading + ' ' + pc)
   }
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ const explain = (expl, color, depth) => {
 }
 
 // generate a full verbose report and tell the user how to fix it
-const report = (expl, color) => {
+const report = (expl, chalk, noColor) => {
   const flags = [
     expl.strictPeerDeps ? '--no-strict-peer-deps' : '',
     '--force',
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ this command with ${or(flags)}
 to accept an incorrect (and potentially broken) dependency resolution.`
 
   return {
-    explanation: `${explain(expl, color, 4)}\n\n${fix}`,
-    file: `# npm resolution error report\n\n${explain(expl, false, Infinity)}\n\n${fix}`,
+    explanation: `${explain(expl, chalk, 4)}\n\n${fix}`,
+    file: `# npm resolution error report\n\n${explain(expl, noColor, Infinity)}\n\n${fix}`,
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/utils/update-notifier.js b/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
index a7eaaca64747f..cb9184bcdb41d 100644
--- a/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
+++ b/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
@@ -5,10 +5,7 @@
 const pacote = require('pacote')
 const ciInfo = require('ci-info')
 const semver = require('semver')
-const chalk = require('chalk')
-const { promisify } = require('util')
-const stat = promisify(require('fs').stat)
-const writeFile = promisify(require('fs').writeFile)
+const { stat, writeFile } = require('fs/promises')
 const { resolve } = require('path')
 
 const SKIP = Symbol('SKIP')
@@ -61,10 +58,6 @@ const updateNotifier = async (npm, spec = 'latest') => {
     return null
   }
 
-  // if they're currently using a prerelease, nudge to the next prerelease
-  // otherwise, nudge to latest.
-  const useColor = npm.logColor
-
   const mani = await pacote.manifest(`npm@${spec}`, {
     // always prefer latest, even if doing --tag=whatever on the cmd
     defaultTag: 'latest',
@@ -91,6 +84,9 @@ const updateNotifier = async (npm, spec = 'latest') => {
     return null
   }
 
+  const useColor = npm.logColor
+  const chalk = npm.logChalk
+
   // ok!  notify the user about this update they should get.
   // The message is saved for printing at process exit so it will not get
   // lost in any other messages being printed as part of the command.
@@ -99,12 +95,11 @@ const updateNotifier = async (npm, spec = 'latest') => {
     : update.minor !== current.minor ? 'minor'
     : update.patch !== current.patch ? 'patch'
     : 'prerelease'
-  const typec = !useColor ? type
-    : type === 'major' ? chalk.red(type)
+  const typec = type === 'major' ? chalk.red(type)
     : type === 'minor' ? chalk.yellow(type)
     : chalk.green(type)
-  const oldc = !useColor ? current : chalk.red(current)
-  const latestc = !useColor ? latest : chalk.green(latest)
+  const oldc = chalk.red(current)
+  const latestc = chalk.green(latest)
   const changelog = `https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v${latest}`
   const changelogc = !useColor ? `<${changelog}>` : chalk.cyan(changelog)
   const cmd = `npm install -g npm@${latest}`
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/profile.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/profile.js.test.cjs
index 4959f7cdd2cc3..4530dbf95cec2 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/profile.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/profile.js.test.cjs
@@ -31,6 +31,19 @@ exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get multiple args default outp
 foo	foo@github.com (verified)	https://github.com/npm
 `
 
+exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get no args --color > should output all profile info with color result 1`] = `
+name: foo
+email: foo@github.com (verified)
+two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
+fullname: Foo Bar
+homepage: https://github.com
+freenode: foobar
+twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
+github: https://github.com/npm
+created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
+updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
+`
+
 exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get no args --parseable > should output all profile info as parseable result 1`] = `
 tfa	auth-and-writes
 name	foo
@@ -46,56 +59,56 @@ github	https://github.com/npm
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get no args default output > should output table with contents 1`] = `
-name: foo
-email: foo@github.com (verified)
-two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
-fullname: Foo Bar
-homepage: https://github.com
-freenode: foobar
-twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
-github: https://github.com/npm
-created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
-updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
+name: foo
+email: foo@github.com (verified)
+two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
+fullname: Foo Bar
+homepage: https://github.com
+freenode: foobar
+twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
+github: https://github.com/npm
+created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
+updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get no args no tfa enabled > should output expected profile values 1`] = `
-name: foo
-email: foo@github.com (verified)
-two-factor auth: disabled
-fullname: Foo Bar
-homepage: https://github.com
-freenode: foobar
-twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
-github: https://github.com/npm
-created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
-updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
+name: foo
+email: foo@github.com (verified)
+two-factor auth: disabled
+fullname: Foo Bar
+homepage: https://github.com
+freenode: foobar
+twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
+github: https://github.com/npm
+created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
+updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get no args profile has cidr_whitelist item > should output table with contents 1`] = `
-name: foo
-email: foo@github.com (verified)
-two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
-fullname: Foo Bar
-homepage: https://github.com
-freenode: foobar
-twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
-github: https://github.com/npm
-created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
-updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
-cidr_whitelist: 192.168.1.1
+name: foo
+email: foo@github.com (verified)
+two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
+fullname: Foo Bar
+homepage: https://github.com
+freenode: foobar
+twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
+github: https://github.com/npm
+created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
+updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
+cidr_whitelist: 192.168.1.1
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile get no args unverified email > should output table with contents 1`] = `
-name: foo
-email: foo@github.com(unverified)
-two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
-fullname: Foo Bar
-homepage: https://github.com
-freenode: foobar
-twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
-github: https://github.com/npm
-created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
-updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
+name: foo
+email: foo@github.com(unverified)
+two-factor auth: auth-and-writes
+fullname: Foo Bar
+homepage: https://github.com
+freenode: foobar
+twitter: https://twitter.com/npmjs
+github: https://github.com/npm
+created: 2015-02-26T01:26:37.384Z
+updated: 2020-08-12T16:19:35.326Z
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/profile.js TAP profile set <key> <value> writable key --parseable > should output parseable set key success msg 1`] = `
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js.test.cjs
index 157390997d793..e5e9dd77569e0 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js.test.cjs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  * Make sure to inspect the output below.  Do not ignore changes!
  */
 'use strict'
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations major to current > color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 122.420.69 - color=always > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
 New major version of npm available! 122.420.69 -> 123.420.69
 Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Run npm install -g npm@123.420.69 to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations major to current > no color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 122.420.69 - color=false > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
 New major version of npm available! 122.420.69 -> 123.420.69
 Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69>
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Run \`npm install -g npm@123.420.69\` to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations minor to current > color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.419.69 - color=always > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
 New minor version of npm available! 123.419.69 -> 123.420.69
 Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Run npm install -g npm@123.420.69 to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations minor to current > no color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.419.69 - color=false > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
 New minor version of npm available! 123.419.69 -> 123.420.69
 Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69>
@@ -37,66 +37,66 @@ Run \`npm install -g npm@123.420.69\` to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations minor to next version > color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.420.68 - color=always > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New minor version of npm available! 123.420.70 -> 123.421.70
-Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70
-Run npm install -g npm@123.421.70 to update!
+New patch version of npm available! 123.420.68 -> 123.420.69
+Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69
+Run npm install -g npm@123.420.69 to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations minor to next version > no color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.420.68 - color=false > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New minor version of npm available! 123.420.70 -> 123.421.70
-Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70>
-Run \`npm install -g npm@123.421.70\` to update!
+New patch version of npm available! 123.420.68 -> 123.420.69
+Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69>
+Run \`npm install -g npm@123.420.69\` to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations new beta available > color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.420.70 - color=always > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New prerelease version of npm available! 124.0.0-beta.0 -> 124.0.0-beta.99999
-Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v124.0.0-beta.99999
-Run npm install -g npm@124.0.0-beta.99999 to update!
+New minor version of npm available! 123.420.70 -> 123.421.70
+Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70
+Run npm install -g npm@123.421.70 to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations new beta available > no color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.420.70 - color=false > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New prerelease version of npm available! 124.0.0-beta.0 -> 124.0.0-beta.99999
-Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v124.0.0-beta.99999>
-Run \`npm install -g npm@124.0.0-beta.99999\` to update!
+New minor version of npm available! 123.420.70 -> 123.421.70
+Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70>
+Run \`npm install -g npm@123.421.70\` to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations patch to current > color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.421.69 - color=always > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New patch version of npm available! 123.420.68 -> 123.420.69
-Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69
-Run npm install -g npm@123.420.69 to update!
+New patch version of npm available! 123.421.69 -> 123.421.70
+Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70
+Run npm install -g npm@123.421.70 to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations patch to current > no color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 123.421.69 - color=false > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New patch version of npm available! 123.420.68 -> 123.420.69
-Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.420.69>
-Run \`npm install -g npm@123.420.69\` to update!
+New patch version of npm available! 123.421.69 -> 123.421.70
+Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70>
+Run \`npm install -g npm@123.421.70\` to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations patch to next version > color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 124.0.0-beta.0 - color=always > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New patch version of npm available! 123.421.69 -> 123.421.70
-Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70
-Run npm install -g npm@123.421.70 to update!
+New prerelease version of npm available! 124.0.0-beta.0 -> 124.0.0-beta.99999
+Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v124.0.0-beta.99999
+Run npm install -g npm@124.0.0-beta.99999 to update!
 
 `
 
-exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations patch to next version > no color 1`] = `
+exports[`test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js TAP notification situations 124.0.0-beta.0 - color=false > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 
-New patch version of npm available! 123.421.69 -> 123.421.70
-Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v123.421.70>
-Run \`npm install -g npm@123.421.70\` to update!
+New prerelease version of npm available! 124.0.0-beta.0 -> 124.0.0-beta.99999
+Changelog: <https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v124.0.0-beta.99999>
+Run \`npm install -g npm@124.0.0-beta.99999\` to update!
 
 `
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/explain.js b/test/lib/commands/explain.js
index 3262dfdce87af..79c917a1cd452 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/explain.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/explain.js
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ const mockExplain = async (t, opts) => {
     mocks: {
       // keep the snapshots pared down a bit, since this has its own tests.
       '{LIB}/utils/explain-dep.js': {
-        explainNode: (expl, depth, color) => {
+        explainNode: (expl, depth, chalk) => {
+          const color = chalk.level !== 0
           return `${expl.name}@${expl.version} depth=${depth} color=${color}`
         },
       },
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/profile.js b/test/lib/commands/profile.js
index 00ccf2607524a..1152acfdc5c46 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/profile.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/profile.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 const t = require('tap')
 const mockNpm = require('../../fixtures/mock-npm')
 
-const mockProfile = async (t, { npmProfile, readUserInfo, qrcode, ...opts } = {}) => {
+const mockProfile = async (t, { npmProfile, readUserInfo, qrcode, config, ...opts } = {}) => {
   const mocks = {
     'npm-profile': npmProfile || {
       async get () {},
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ const mockProfile = async (t, { npmProfile, readUserInfo, qrcode, ...opts } = {}
 
   const mock = await mockNpm(t, {
     ...opts,
+    config: {
+      color: false,
+      ...config,
+    },
     mocks: {
       ...mocks,
       ...opts.mocks,
@@ -95,6 +99,16 @@ t.test('profile get no args', async t => {
     t.matchSnapshot(result(), 'should output all profile info as parseable result')
   })
 
+  t.test('--color', async t => {
+    const { profile, result } = await mockProfile(t, {
+      npmProfile: defaultNpmProfile,
+      config: { color: 'always' },
+    })
+
+    await profile.exec(['get'])
+    t.matchSnapshot(result(), 'should output all profile info with color result')
+  })
+
   t.test('no tfa enabled', async t => {
     const npmProfile = {
       async get () {
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/view.js b/test/lib/commands/view.js
index c6a4bf8fb79f4..51bc130df24e5 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/view.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/view.js
@@ -270,6 +270,10 @@ const loadMockNpm = async function (t, opts = {}) {
       },
     },
     ...opts,
+    config: {
+      color: 'always',
+      ...opts.config,
+    },
   })
   return mockNpm
 }
@@ -374,7 +378,7 @@ t.test('package in cwd', async t => {
 })
 
 t.test('specific field names', async t => {
-  const { view, outputs } = await loadMockNpm(t)
+  const { view, outputs } = await loadMockNpm(t, { config: { color: false } })
   t.afterEach(() => outputs.length = 0)
 
   t.test('readme', async t => {
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/display.js b/test/lib/utils/display.js
index cfe0181e23e79..7a99dcb679c09 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/display.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/display.js
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ t.test('can log', async (t) => {
 
   display.log('warn', 'ERESOLVE', 'hello', { some: 'object' })
   t.match(logs.warn, [['ERESOLVE', 'hello']])
-  t.match(explains, [[{ some: 'object' }, false, 2]])
+  t.match(explains, [[{ some: 'object' }, null, 2]])
 })
 
 t.test('handles log throwing', async (t) => {
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/error-message.js b/test/lib/utils/error-message.js
index 8a52b97f528e7..37b3bc6afeddc 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/error-message.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/error-message.js
@@ -414,11 +414,14 @@ t.test('explain ERESOLVE errors', async t => {
     errorMocks: {
       '{LIB}/utils/explain-eresolve.js': {
         report: (...args) => {
-          EXPLAIN_CALLED.push(args)
+          EXPLAIN_CALLED.push(...args)
           return { explanation: 'explanation', file: 'report' }
         },
       },
     },
+    config: {
+      color: 'always',
+    },
   })
 
   const er = Object.assign(new Error('could not resolve'), {
@@ -426,5 +429,8 @@ t.test('explain ERESOLVE errors', async t => {
   })
 
   t.matchSnapshot(errorMessage(er))
-  t.match(EXPLAIN_CALLED, [[er, false]])
+  t.equal(EXPLAIN_CALLED.length, 3)
+  t.match(EXPLAIN_CALLED, [er, Function, Function])
+  t.not(EXPLAIN_CALLED[1].level, 0, 'color chalk level is not 0')
+  t.equal(EXPLAIN_CALLED[2].level, 0, 'colorless chalk level is 0')
 })
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/explain-dep.js b/test/lib/utils/explain-dep.js
index 514f28d125a0d..e5389fd26d796 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/explain-dep.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/explain-dep.js
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 const { resolve } = require('path')
 const t = require('tap')
+const Chalk = require('chalk')
 const { explainNode, printNode } = require('../../../lib/utils/explain-dep.js')
 const { cleanCwd } = require('../../fixtures/clean-snapshot')
 
 const testdir = t.testdirName
+const color = new Chalk.Instance({ level: Chalk.level })
+const noColor = new Chalk.Instance({ level: 0 })
 
 t.cleanSnapshot = (str) => cleanCwd(str)
 
@@ -250,10 +253,10 @@ cases.workspaces = {
 
 for (const [name, expl] of Object.entries(cases)) {
   t.test(name, t => {
-    t.matchSnapshot(printNode(expl, true), 'print color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(printNode(expl, false), 'print nocolor')
-    t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(expl, Infinity, true), 'explain color deep')
-    t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(expl, 2, false), 'explain nocolor shallow')
+    t.matchSnapshot(printNode(expl, color), 'print color')
+    t.matchSnapshot(printNode(expl, noColor), 'print nocolor')
+    t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(expl, Infinity, color), 'explain color deep')
+    t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(expl, 2, noColor), 'explain nocolor shallow')
     t.end()
   })
 }
@@ -261,6 +264,6 @@ for (const [name, expl] of Object.entries(cases)) {
 // make sure that we show the last one if it's the only one that would
 // hit the ...
 cases.manyDeps.dependents.pop()
-t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(cases.manyDeps, 2, false), 'ellipses test one')
+t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(cases.manyDeps, 2, noColor), 'ellipses test one')
 cases.manyDeps.dependents.pop()
-t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(cases.manyDeps, 2, false), 'ellipses test two')
+t.matchSnapshot(explainNode(cases.manyDeps, 2, noColor), 'ellipses test two')
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js b/test/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js
index 2c1fed77899e9..0f60556ef2ac9 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 const t = require('tap')
-const { resolve } = require('path')
+const Chalk = require('chalk')
 const { explain, report } = require('../../../lib/utils/explain-eresolve.js')
 
 const cases = require('../../fixtures/eresolve-explanations.js')
-const { cleanDate } = require('../../fixtures/clean-snapshot.js')
+
+const color = new Chalk.Instance({ level: Chalk.level })
+const noColor = new Chalk.Instance({ level: 0 })
 
 for (const [name, expl] of Object.entries(cases)) {
   // no sense storing the whole contents of each object in the snapshot
@@ -11,22 +13,16 @@ for (const [name, expl] of Object.entries(cases)) {
   expl.toJSON = () => ({ name, json: true })
 
   t.test(name, t => {
-    const dir = t.testdir()
-    const fileReport = resolve(dir, 'eresolve-report.txt')
-    const opts = { file: fileReport, date: new Date().toISOString() }
-
-    t.cleanSnapshot = str => cleanDate(str.split(fileReport).join('${REPORT}'))
-
-    const color = report(expl, true, opts)
-    t.matchSnapshot(color.explanation, 'report with color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(color.file, 'report from color')
+    const colorReport = report(expl, color, noColor)
+    t.matchSnapshot(colorReport.explanation, 'report with color')
+    t.matchSnapshot(colorReport.file, 'report from color')
 
-    const noColor = report(expl, false, opts)
-    t.matchSnapshot(noColor.explanation, 'report with no color')
-    t.equal(noColor.file, color.file, 'same report written for object')
+    const noColorReport = report(expl, noColor, noColor)
+    t.matchSnapshot(noColorReport.explanation, 'report with no color')
+    t.equal(noColorReport.file, colorReport.file, 'same report written for object')
 
-    t.matchSnapshot(explain(expl, true, 2), 'explain with color, depth of 2')
-    t.matchSnapshot(explain(expl, false, 6), 'explain with no color, depth of 6')
+    t.matchSnapshot(explain(expl, color, 2), 'explain with color, depth of 2')
+    t.matchSnapshot(explain(expl, noColor, 6), 'explain with no color, depth of 6')
 
     t.end()
   })
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js b/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
index e7830e6d9d66e..9c12433a2d117 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 const t = require('tap')
+const { basename } = require('path')
 const tmock = require('../../fixtures/tmock')
+const mockNpm = require('../../fixtures/mock-npm')
 
-let ciMock = {}
-const flatOptions = { global: false, cache: t.testdir() + '/_cacache' }
-
-const MANIFEST_REQUEST = []
 const CURRENT_VERSION = '123.420.69'
 const CURRENT_MAJOR = '122.420.69'
 const CURRENT_MINOR = '123.419.69'
@@ -15,238 +13,196 @@ const NEXT_PATCH = '123.421.69'
 const CURRENT_BETA = '124.0.0-beta.99999'
 const HAVE_BETA = '124.0.0-beta.0'
 
-let PACOTE_ERROR = null
-const pacote = {
-  manifest: async (spec, opts) => {
-    if (!spec.match(/^npm@/)) {
-      process.exit(1)
-    }
-    MANIFEST_REQUEST.push(spec)
-    if (PACOTE_ERROR) {
-      throw PACOTE_ERROR
-    }
-
-    return {
-      version:
-        spec === 'npm@latest'
-          ? CURRENT_VERSION
-          : /-/.test(spec)
-            ? CURRENT_BETA
-            : NEXT_VERSION,
-    }
-  },
-}
-
-const defaultNpm = {
-  flatOptions,
-  version: CURRENT_VERSION,
-  config: { get: k => k !== 'global' },
-  command: 'view',
-  argv: ['npm'],
-}
-
-const { basename } = require('path')
-
-let STAT_ERROR = null
-let STAT_MTIME = null
-let WRITE_ERROR = null
-const fs = {
-  ...require('fs'),
-  stat: (path, cb) => {
-    if (basename(path) !== '_update-notifier-last-checked') {
-      process.exit(1)
-    }
-    process.nextTick(() => cb(STAT_ERROR, { mtime: new Date(STAT_MTIME) }))
-  },
-  writeFile: (path, content, cb) => {
-    if (content !== '') {
-      process.exit(1)
-    }
-    if (basename(path) !== '_update-notifier-last-checked') {
-      process.exit(1)
-    }
-    process.nextTick(() => cb(WRITE_ERROR))
-  },
+const runUpdateNotifier = async (t, {
+  STAT_ERROR,
+  WRITE_ERROR,
+  PACOTE_ERROR,
+  STAT_MTIME = 0,
+  mocks: _mocks = {},
+  command = 'view',
+  version = CURRENT_VERSION,
+  argv = [],
+  ...config
+} = {}) => {
+  const mockFs = {
+    ...require('fs/promises'),
+    stat: async (path) => {
+      if (basename(path) !== '_update-notifier-last-checked') {
+        t.fail('no stat allowed for non upate notifier files')
+      }
+      if (STAT_ERROR) {
+        throw STAT_ERROR
+      }
+      return { mtime: new Date(STAT_MTIME) }
+    },
+    writeFile: async (path, content) => {
+      if (content !== '') {
+        t.fail('no write file content allowed')
+      }
+      if (basename(path) !== '_update-notifier-last-checked') {
+        t.fail('no writefile allowed for non upate notifier files')
+      }
+      if (WRITE_ERROR) {
+        throw WRITE_ERROR
+      }
+    },
+  }
+
+  const MANIFEST_REQUEST = []
+  const mockPacote = {
+    manifest: async (spec) => {
+      if (!spec.match(/^npm@/)) {
+        t.fail('no pacote manifest allowed for non npm packages')
+      }
+      MANIFEST_REQUEST.push(spec)
+      if (PACOTE_ERROR) {
+        throw PACOTE_ERROR
+      }
+      const manifestV = spec === 'npm@latest' ? CURRENT_VERSION
+        : /-/.test(spec) ? CURRENT_BETA : NEXT_VERSION
+      return { version: manifestV }
+    },
+  }
+
+  const mocks = {
+    pacote: mockPacote,
+    'fs/promises': mockFs,
+    '{ROOT}/package.json': { version },
+    'ci-info': { isCI: false, name: null },
+    ..._mocks,
+  }
+
+  const mock = await mockNpm(t, {
+    command,
+    mocks,
+    config,
+    argv,
+  })
+  const updateNotifier = tmock(t, '{LIB}/utils/update-notifier.js', mocks)
+
+  const result = await updateNotifier(mock.npm)
+
+  return {
+    result,
+    MANIFEST_REQUEST,
+  }
 }
 
-t.afterEach(() => {
-  MANIFEST_REQUEST.length = 0
-  STAT_ERROR = null
-  PACOTE_ERROR = null
-  STAT_MTIME = null
-  WRITE_ERROR = null
+t.test('does not notify by default', async t => {
+  const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t)
+  t.not(result)
+  t.equal(MANIFEST_REQUEST.length, 1)
 })
 
-const runUpdateNotifier = async ({ color = true, ...npmOptions } = {}) => {
-  const _npm = { ...defaultNpm, ...npmOptions, logColor: color }
-  return tmock(t, '{LIB}/utils/update-notifier.js', {
-    'ci-info': ciMock,
-    pacote,
-    fs,
-  })(_npm)
-}
-
 t.test('situations in which we do not notify', t => {
   t.test('nothing to do if notifier disabled', async t => {
-    t.equal(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({
-        config: { get: k => k !== 'update-notifier' },
-      }),
-      null
-    )
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, {
+      'update-notifier': false,
+    })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
   t.test('do not suggest update if already updating', async t => {
-    t.equal(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({
-        flatOptions: { ...flatOptions, global: true },
-        command: 'install',
-        argv: ['npm'],
-      }),
-      null
-    )
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, {
+      command: 'install',
+      argv: ['npm'],
+      global: true,
+    })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
   t.test('do not suggest update if already updating with spec', async t => {
-    t.equal(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({
-        flatOptions: { ...flatOptions, global: true },
-        command: 'install',
-        argv: ['npm@latest'],
-      }),
-      null
-    )
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, {
+      command: 'install',
+      argv: ['npm@latest'],
+      global: true,
+    })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
   t.test('do not update if same as latest', async t => {
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier(), null)
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t)
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest'], 'requested latest version')
   })
   t.test('check if stat errors (here for coverage)', async t => {
-    STAT_ERROR = new Error('blorg')
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier(), null)
+    const STAT_ERROR = new Error('blorg')
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { STAT_ERROR })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest'], 'requested latest version')
   })
   t.test('ok if write errors (here for coverage)', async t => {
-    WRITE_ERROR = new Error('grolb')
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier(), null)
+    const WRITE_ERROR = new Error('grolb')
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { WRITE_ERROR })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest'], 'requested latest version')
   })
   t.test('ignore pacote failures (here for coverage)', async t => {
-    PACOTE_ERROR = new Error('pah-KO-tchay')
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier(), null)
+    const PACOTE_ERROR = new Error('pah-KO-tchay')
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { PACOTE_ERROR })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest'], 'requested latest version')
   })
   t.test('do not update if newer than latest, but same as next', async t => {
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier({ version: NEXT_VERSION }), null)
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { version: NEXT_VERSION })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     const reqs = ['npm@latest', `npm@^${NEXT_VERSION}`]
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, reqs, 'requested latest and next versions')
   })
   t.test('do not update if on the latest beta', async t => {
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier({ version: CURRENT_BETA }), null)
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { version: CURRENT_BETA })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     const reqs = [`npm@^${CURRENT_BETA}`]
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, reqs, 'requested latest and next versions')
   })
 
   t.test('do not update in CI', async t => {
-    t.teardown(() => {
-      ciMock = {}
-    })
-    ciMock = { isCI: true, name: 'something' }
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier(), null)
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { mocks: {
+      'ci-info': { isCI: true, name: 'something' },
+    } })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
   t.test('only check weekly for GA releases', async t => {
     // One week (plus five minutes to account for test environment fuzziness)
-    STAT_MTIME = Date.now() - 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 * 7 + 1000 * 60 * 5
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier(), null)
+    const STAT_MTIME = Date.now() - 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 * 7 + 1000 * 60 * 5
+    const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { STAT_MTIME })
+    t.equal(result, null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
   t.test('only check daily for betas', async t => {
     // One day (plus five minutes to account for test environment fuzziness)
-    STAT_MTIME = Date.now() - 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 + 1000 * 60 * 5
-    t.equal(await runUpdateNotifier({ version: HAVE_BETA }), null)
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
+    const STAT_MTIME = Date.now() - 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 + 1000 * 60 * 5
+    const res = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { STAT_MTIME, version: HAVE_BETA })
+    t.equal(res.result, null)
+    t.strictSame(res.MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
   t.end()
 })
 
-t.test('notification situations', t => {
-  t.test('new beta available', async t => {
-    const version = HAVE_BETA
-    t.matchSnapshot(await runUpdateNotifier({ version }), 'color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({ version, color: false }),
-      'no color'
-    )
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [`npm@^${version}`, `npm@^${version}`])
-  })
-
-  t.test('patch to next version', async t => {
-    const version = NEXT_PATCH
-    t.matchSnapshot(await runUpdateNotifier({ version }), 'color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({ version, color: false }),
-      'no color'
-    )
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [
-      'npm@latest',
-      `npm@^${version}`,
-      'npm@latest',
-      `npm@^${version}`,
-    ])
-  })
-
-  t.test('minor to next version', async t => {
-    const version = NEXT_MINOR
-    t.matchSnapshot(await runUpdateNotifier({ version }), 'color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({ version, color: false }),
-      'no color'
-    )
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [
-      'npm@latest',
-      `npm@^${version}`,
-      'npm@latest',
-      `npm@^${version}`,
-    ])
-  })
-
-  t.test('patch to current', async t => {
-    const version = CURRENT_PATCH
-    t.matchSnapshot(await runUpdateNotifier({ version }), 'color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({ version, color: false }),
-      'no color'
-    )
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest', 'npm@latest'])
-  })
-
-  t.test('minor to current', async t => {
-    const version = CURRENT_MINOR
-    t.matchSnapshot(await runUpdateNotifier({ version }), 'color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({ version, color: false }),
-      'no color'
-    )
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest', 'npm@latest'])
-  })
-
-  t.test('major to current', async t => {
-    const version = CURRENT_MAJOR
-    t.matchSnapshot(await runUpdateNotifier({ version }), 'color')
-    t.matchSnapshot(
-      await runUpdateNotifier({ version, color: false }),
-      'no color'
-    )
-    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest', 'npm@latest'])
-  })
-
-  t.end()
+t.test('notification situations', async t => {
+  const cases = {
+    [HAVE_BETA]: [`^{V}`],
+    [NEXT_PATCH]: [`latest`, `^{V}`],
+    [NEXT_MINOR]: [`latest`, `^{V}`],
+    [CURRENT_PATCH]: ['latest'],
+    [CURRENT_MINOR]: ['latest'],
+    [CURRENT_MAJOR]: ['latest'],
+  }
+
+  for (const [version, reqs] of Object.entries(cases)) {
+    for (const color of [false, 'always']) {
+      await t.test(`${version} - color=${color}`, async t => {
+        const { result, MANIFEST_REQUEST } = await runUpdateNotifier(t, { version, color })
+        t.matchSnapshot(result)
+        t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, reqs.map(r => `npm@${r.replace('{V}', version)}`))
+      })
+    }
+  }
 })