diff --git a/nova/log.py b/nova/log.py
index 310656bc..19ad95b7 100644
--- a/nova/log.py
+++ b/nova/log.py
@@ -279,6 +279,21 @@ class LegacyNovaFormatter(logging.Formatter):
         return '\n'.join(formatted_lines)
 
 
+class NovaColorHandler(logging.StreamHandler):
+    LEVEL_COLORS = {
+        logging.DEBUG: '\033[00;32m',  # GREEN
+        logging.INFO: '\033[00;36m',  # CYAN
+        logging.AUDIT: '\033[01;36m',  # BOLD CYAN
+        logging.WARN: '\033[01;33m',  # BOLD YELLOW
+        logging.ERROR: '\033[01;31m',  # BOLD RED
+        logging.CRITICAL: '\033[01;31m',  # BOLD RED
+    }
+
+    def format(self, record):
+        record.color = self.LEVEL_COLORS[record.levelno]
+        return logging.StreamHandler.format(self, record)
+
+
 class PublishErrorsHandler(logging.Handler):
     def emit(self, record):
         if 'list_notifier_drivers' in FLAGS:
@@ -357,7 +372,7 @@ def _setup_logging_from_flags():
             os.chmod(logpath, mode)
 
     if FLAGS.use_stderr:
-        streamlog = logging.StreamHandler()
+        streamlog = NovaColorHandler()
         nova_root.addHandler(streamlog)
 
     elif not FLAGS.log_file: