diff --git a/dvc/ui/__init__.py b/dvc/ui/__init__.py
index 5e81a2e75c..0fc60bceb1 100644
--- a/dvc/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/dvc/ui/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from contextlib import contextmanager
+from contextlib import contextmanager, nullcontext
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
     Any,
@@ -132,9 +132,12 @@ def write_json(  # noqa: PLR0913
             sort_keys=sort_keys,
         )
         if not highlight:
+            import os
+
             # we don't need colorama to try to strip ansi codes
             # when highlighting is disabled
-            with disable_colorama():
+            ctx = nullcontext() if "DVC_TEST" in os.environ else disable_colorama()
+            with ctx:
                 return self.write(json.text, stderr=stderr)
         return self.rich_print(json, stderr=stderr, soft_wrap=True)