diff --git a/README.asciidoc b/README.asciidoc
index 09cdee48..c3d51abe 100644
--- a/README.asciidoc
+++ b/README.asciidoc
@@ -697,7 +697,6 @@ command `q!` has to be used).
  * `rename-buffer <name>`: set current buffer name
  * `rename-session <name>`: set current session name
  * `echo [options] <text>`: show <text> in status line, with the following options:
-   ** `-color` <face>: print the given text with <face>, most commonly `Error` or `Information`
    ** `-markup`: expand the markup strings in <text>
    ** `-debug`: print the given text to the `\*debug*` buffer
  * `nop`: does nothing, but as with every other commands, arguments may be
diff --git a/doc/manpages/commands.asciidoc b/doc/manpages/commands.asciidoc
index f80f920a..9618e7b2 100644
--- a/doc/manpages/commands.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/manpages/commands.asciidoc
@@ -73,9 +73,6 @@ command *q!* has to be used).
 *echo* [options] <text>::
 	show *text* in status line, with the following *options*:
 
-	*-color* <face>:::
-		print the given text with *face*, most commonly *Error* or *Information*
-
 	*-markup*:::
 		expand the markup strings in *text* (c.f. the 'expansions' documentation page)
 
diff --git a/rc/base/ctags.kak b/rc/base/ctags.kak
index 8c5fdb61..4c5c193e 100644
--- a/rc/base/ctags.kak
+++ b/rc/base/ctags.kak
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ If no symbol is passed then the current selection is used as symbol name} \
             out = out " %{" $2 " {MenuInfo}" re "} %{eval -collapse-jumps %{ try %{ edit %{" tagroot $2 "}; exec %{/\\Q" keys "<ret>vc} } catch %{ echo %{unable to find tag} } } }"
         }
         /[^\t]+\t[^\t]+\t[0-9]+/ { out = out " %{" $2 ":" $3 "} %{eval -collapse-jumps %{ edit %{" tagroot $2 "} %{" $3 "}}}" }
-        END { print ( length(out) == 0 ? "echo -color Error no such tag " ENVIRON["tagname"] : "menu -markup -auto-single " out ) }'
+        END { print ( length(out) == 0 ? "echo -markup %{{Error}no such tag " ENVIRON["tagname"] "}" : "menu -markup -auto-single " out ) }'
     }}
 
 def ctags-complete -docstring "Insert completion candidates for the current selection into the buffer's local variables" %{ eval -draft %{
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ decl -docstring "options to pass to the `ctags` shell command" \
 decl -docstring "path to the directory in which the tags file will be generated" str ctagspaths "."
 
 def ctags-generate -docstring 'Generate tag file asynchronously' %{
-    echo -color Information "launching tag generation in the background"
+    echo -markup "{Information}launching tag generation in the background"
     %sh{ {
         while ! mkdir .tags.kaklock 2>/dev/null; do sleep 1; done
         trap 'rmdir .tags.kaklock' EXIT
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def ctags-generate -docstring 'Generate tag file asynchronously' %{
             msg="tags generation failed"
         fi
 
-        printf %s\\n "eval -client $kak_client echo -color Information '${msg}'" | kak -p ${kak_session}
+        printf %s\\n "eval -client $kak_client echo -markup '{Information}${msg}'" | kak -p ${kak_session}
     } > /dev/null 2>&1 < /dev/null & }
 }
 
@@ -110,6 +110,6 @@ def ctags-update-tags -docstring 'Update tags for the given file' %{
             msg="tags update failed for $kak_bufname"
         fi
 
-        printf %s\\n "eval -client $kak_client echo -color Information '${msg}'" | kak -p ${kak_session}
+        printf %s\\n "eval -client $kak_client echo -markup '{Information}${msg}'" | kak -p ${kak_session}
     } > /dev/null 2>&1 < /dev/null & }
 }
diff --git a/rc/base/lint.kak b/rc/base/lint.kak
index b5df16be..5c570ba0 100644
--- a/rc/base/lint.kak
+++ b/rc/base/lint.kak
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def lint-next-error -docstring "Jump to the next line that contains an error" %{
             if [ -n "$range" ]; then
                 printf '%s\n' "select $range"
             else
-                printf 'echo -color Error no lint diagnostics\n'
+                printf 'echo -markup "{Error}no lint diagnostics"\n'
             fi
         }
     }}
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def lint-previous-error -docstring "Jump to the previous line that contains an e
             if [ -n "$range" ]; then
                 printf '%s\n' "select $range"
             else
-                printf 'echo -color Error no lint diagnostics\n'
+                printf 'echo -markup "{Error}no lint diagnostics"\n'
             fi
         }
     }}
diff --git a/rc/base/lua.kak b/rc/base/lua.kak
index 4a43a080..0853e711 100644
--- a/rc/base/lua.kak
+++ b/rc/base/lua.kak
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def lua-alternative-file -docstring 'Jump to the alternate file (implementation
     case $kak_buffile in
         *spec/*_spec.lua)
             altfile=$(eval printf %s\\n $(printf %s\\n $kak_buffile | sed s+spec/+'*'/+';'s/_spec//))
-            [ ! -f $altfile ] && echo "echo -color Error 'implementation file not found'" && exit
+            [ ! -f $altfile ] && echo "echo -markup '{Error}implementation file not found'" && exit
         ;;
         *.lua)
             path=$kak_buffile
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ def lua-alternative-file -docstring 'Jump to the alternate file (implementation
                     break
                 fi
             done
-            [ ! -d $altdir ] && echo "echo -color Error 'spec/ not found'" && exit
+            [ ! -d $altdir ] && echo "echo -markup '{Error}spec/ not found'" && exit
         ;;
         *)
-            echo "echo -color Error 'alternative file not found'" && exit
+            echo "echo -markup '{Error}alternative file not found'" && exit
         ;;
     esac
     printf %s\\n "edit $altfile"
diff --git a/rc/base/ruby.kak b/rc/base/ruby.kak
index 1449251a..48d006e6 100644
--- a/rc/base/ruby.kak
+++ b/rc/base/ruby.kak
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def ruby-alternative-file -docstring 'Jump to the alternate file (implementation
     case $kak_buffile in
         *spec/*_spec.rb)
             altfile=$(eval echo $(echo $kak_buffile | sed s+spec/+'*'/+';'s/_spec//))
-            [ ! -f $altfile ] && echo "echo -color Error 'implementation file not found'" && exit
+            [ ! -f $altfile ] && echo "echo -markup '{Error}implementation file not found'" && exit
         ;;
         *.rb)
             path=$kak_buffile
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ def ruby-alternative-file -docstring 'Jump to the alternate file (implementation
                     break
                 fi
             done
-            [ ! -d $altdir ] && echo "echo -color Error 'spec/ not found'" && exit
+            [ ! -d $altdir ] && echo "echo -markup '{Error}spec/ not found'" && exit
         ;;
         *)
-            echo "echo -color Error 'alternative file not found'" && exit
+            echo "echo -markup '{Error}alternative file not found'" && exit
         ;;
     esac
     echo "edit $altfile"
diff --git a/rc/base/spell.kak b/rc/base/spell.kak
index fd69bab1..e1b7915e 100644
--- a/rc/base/spell.kak
+++ b/rc/base/spell.kak
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Formats of language supported:
     %sh{
         if [ $# -ge 1 ]; then
             if [ ${#1} -ne 2 ] && [ ${#1} -ne 5 ]; then
-                echo 'echo -color Error Invalid language code (examples of expected format: en, en_US, en-US)'
+                echo "echo -markup '{Error}Invalid language code (examples of expected format: en, en_US, en-US)'"
                 rm -rf "$(dirname "$kak_opt_spell_tmp_file")"
                 exit 1
             else
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Formats of language supported:
                             ;;
                         '') line_num=$((line_num + 1));;
                         \*) ;;
-                        *) printf 'echo -color Error %%{%s}\n' "${line}" | kak -p "${kak_session}";;
+                        *) printf 'echo -markup %%{{Error}%s}\n' "${line}" | kak -p "${kak_session}";;
                     esac
                 done
                 printf 'set "buffer=%s" spell_regions %%{%s}' "${kak_bufname}" "${regions}" \
diff --git a/rc/base/tmux.kak b/rc/base/tmux.kak
index 01a84da1..34ece586 100644
--- a/rc/base/tmux.kak
+++ b/rc/base/tmux.kak
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def -hidden -params 1.. tmux-new-impl %{
     %sh{
         tmux=${kak_client_env_TMUX:-$TMUX}
         if [ -z "$tmux" ]; then
-            echo "echo -color Error 'This command is only available in a tmux session'"
+            echo "echo -markup '{Error}This command is only available in a tmux session'"
             exit
         fi
         tmux_args="$1"
diff --git a/rc/base/x11.kak b/rc/base/x11.kak
index 83ee6029..8b0dab36 100644
--- a/rc/base/x11.kak
+++ b/rc/base/x11.kak
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ The optional arguments will be passed as arguments to the new client} \
     -command-completion \
     x11-new %{ %sh{
         if [ -z "${kak_opt_termcmd}" ]; then
-           echo "echo -color Error 'termcmd option is not set'"
+           echo "echo -markup '{Error}termcmd option is not set'"
            exit
         fi
         if [ $# -ne 0 ]; then kakoune_params="-e '$@'"; fi
diff --git a/rc/core/c-family.kak b/rc/core/c-family.kak
index caff5fbb..d640c64e 100644
--- a/rc/core/c-family.kak
+++ b/rc/core/c-family.kak
@@ -333,9 +333,9 @@ def c-family-alternative-file -docstring "Jump to the alternate file (header/imp
             done
         ;;
         *)
-            echo "echo -color Error 'extension not recognized'"
+            echo "echo -markup '{Error}extension not recognized'"
             exit
         ;;
     esac
-    echo "echo -color Error 'alternative file not found'"
+    echo "echo -markup '{Error}alternative file not found'"
 }}
diff --git a/rc/core/doc.kak b/rc/core/doc.kak
index 478dc926..342bc176 100644
--- a/rc/core/doc.kak
+++ b/rc/core/doc.kak
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def -hidden -params 1..2 doc-open %{
                 printf %s\\n "try %{ exec '%<a-s><a-k>(?i)^\h+[^\n]*?\Q${needle}\E<ret>\'' } catch %{ exec <space>gg }"
             fi
         else
-           printf %s\\n "echo -color Error %{doc '$@' failed: see *debug* buffer for details}"
+           printf %s\\n "echo -markup %{{Error}doc '$@' failed: see *debug* buffer for details}"
            rm ${manout}
         fi
     }
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ An optional keyword argument can be passed to the function, which will be automa
         if [ -f "${PATH_DOC}" ]; then
             printf %s\\n "eval -try-client %opt{docsclient} doc-open ${PATH_DOC} $@"
         else
-            printf %s\\n "echo -color Error No such doc file: ${PATH_DOC}"
+            printf %s\\n "echo -markup '{Error}No such doc file: ${PATH_DOC}'"
         fi
     }
 }
diff --git a/rc/core/formatter.kak b/rc/core/formatter.kak
index 358e54d8..b531a8a6 100644
--- a/rc/core/formatter.kak
+++ b/rc/core/formatter.kak
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def format -docstring "Format the contents of the current buffer" %{ eval -draft
                         printf '%s\\n' \"%sh{ rm -f '\${path_file_out}' }\"
                     else
                         printf '%s\\n' \"
-                            eval -client '${kak_client}' echo -color Error formatter returned an error (\$?)
+                            eval -client '${kak_client}' echo -markup '{Error}formatter returned an error (\$?)'
                         \"
                         rm -f \"\${path_file_out}\"
                     fi
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def format -docstring "Format the contents of the current buffer" %{ eval -draft
                 }
             "
         else
-            printf '%s\n' "eval -client '${kak_client}' echo -color Error formatcmd option not specified"
+            printf '%s\n' "eval -client '${kak_client}' echo -markup '{Error}formatcmd option not specified'"
         fi
     }
 } }
diff --git a/rc/core/make.kak b/rc/core/make.kak
index 09821e4e..99eb958e 100644
--- a/rc/core/make.kak
+++ b/rc/core/make.kak
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ def -hidden make-jump %{
             # Try to parse the error into capture groups, failing on absolute paths
             exec s "Entering directory '([^']+)'.*\n([^:/][^:]*):(\d+):(?:(\d+):)?([^\n]+)\'" <ret>l
             set buffer make_current_error_line %val{cursor_line}
-            eval -try-client %opt{jumpclient} "edit -existing %reg{1}/%reg{2} %reg{3} %reg{4}; echo -color Information %{%reg{5}}; try %{ focus }"
+            eval -try-client %opt{jumpclient} "edit -existing %reg{1}/%reg{2} %reg{3} %reg{4}; echo -markup %{{Information}%reg{5}}; try %{ focus }"
         } catch %{
             exec <a-h><a-l> s "((?:\w:)?[^:]+):(\d+):(?:(\d+):)?([^\n]+)\'" <ret>l
             set buffer make_current_error_line %val{cursor_line}
-            eval -try-client %opt{jumpclient} "edit -existing %reg{1} %reg{2} %reg{3}; echo -color Information %{%reg{4}}; try %{ focus }"
+            eval -try-client %opt{jumpclient} "edit -existing %reg{1} %reg{2} %reg{3}; echo -markup %{{Information}%reg{4}}; try %{ focus }"
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/rc/core/man.kak b/rc/core/man.kak
index 0ee92687..6533fa68 100644
--- a/rc/core/man.kak
+++ b/rc/core/man.kak
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def -hidden -params 1..2 man-impl %{ %sh{
                 set window manpage '$@'
         "
     else
-       printf %s\\n "echo -color Error %{man '$@' failed: see *debug* buffer for details }"
+       printf %s\\n "echo -markup %{{Error}man '$@' failed: see *debug* buffer for details}"
        rm ${colout}
     fi
 } }
diff --git a/rc/extra/autorestore.kak b/rc/extra/autorestore.kak
index ad074116..b6cb7699 100644
--- a/rc/extra/autorestore.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/autorestore.kak
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def autorestore-purge-backups -docstring "Remove all the backups of the current
             rm -f "${f}"
         done
     }
-    echo -color Information 'Backup files removed'
+    echo -markup '{Information}Backup files removed'
 }
 
 ## If for some reason, backup files need to be ignored
diff --git a/rc/extra/clang.kak b/rc/extra/clang.kak
index b4f956b2..2382bedb 100644
--- a/rc/extra/clang.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/clang.kak
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def clang-diagnostics-next -docstring "Jump to the next line that contains an er
             if [ -n "$line" ]; then
                 printf %s\\n "exec ${line} g"
             else
-                echo 'echo -color Error no next clang diagnostic'
+                echo "echo -markup '{Error}no next clang diagnostic'"
             fi
         )
     } }
diff --git a/rc/extra/editorconfig.kak b/rc/extra/editorconfig.kak
index a6f43461..dc028c4c 100644
--- a/rc/extra/editorconfig.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/editorconfig.kak
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ decl -hidden bool editorconfig_trim_trailing_whitespace false
 def editorconfig-load -params ..1 -docstring "editorconfig-load [file]: set formatting behavior according to editorconfig" %{
     remove-hooks buffer editorconfig-hooks
     %sh{
-        command -v editorconfig >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo 'echo -color Error editorconfig could not be found'; exit 1; }
+        command -v editorconfig >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo 'echo -markup "{Error}editorconfig could not be found"'; exit 1; }
         editorconfig "${1:-$kak_buffile}" | awk -F= -- '
             /indent_style=/            { indent_style = $2 }
             /indent_size=/             { indent_size = $2 == "tab" ? 4 : $2  }
diff --git a/rc/extra/git-tools.kak b/rc/extra/git-tools.kak
index ba8dade7..7b2381ac 100644
--- a/rc/extra/git-tools.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/git-tools.kak
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@ Available commands:\n-add\n-rm\n-blame\n-commit\n-checkout\n-diff\n-hide-blame\n
         # Handle case where message needs not to be edited
         if grep -E -q -e "-m|-F|-C|--message=.*|--file=.*|--reuse-message=.*|--no-edit"; then
             if git commit "$@" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-                echo 'echo -color Information Commit succeeded'
+                echo 'echo -markup "{Information}Commit succeeded"'
             else
-                echo 'echo -color Error Commit failed'
+                echo 'echo -markup "{Error}Commit failed"'
             fi
             exit
         fi <<-EOF
@@ -130,9 +130,9 @@ Available commands:\n-add\n-rm\n-blame\n-commit\n-checkout\n-diff\n-hide-blame\n
         printf %s "edit '$msgfile'
               hook buffer BufWritePost '.*\Q$msgfile\E' %{ %sh{
                   if git commit -F '$msgfile' --cleanup=strip $@ > /dev/null; then
-                     printf %s 'eval -client $kak_client echo -color Information Commit succeeded; delete-buffer'
+                     printf %s 'eval -client $kak_client echo -markup %{{Information}Commit succeeded}; delete-buffer'
                   else
-                     printf %s 'eval -client $kak_client echo -color Error Commit failed'
+                     printf %s 'eval -client $kak_client echo -markup %{{Error}Commit failed}'
                   fi
               } }"
     }
@@ -159,19 +159,19 @@ Available commands:\n-add\n-rm\n-blame\n-commit\n-checkout\n-diff\n-hide-blame\n
        add)
            name="${2:-${kak_buffile}}"
            if git add -- "${name}" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-              printf %s "echo -color Information 'git: added ${name}'"
+              printf %s "echo -markup '{Information}git: added ${name}'"
            else
-              printf %s "echo -color Error 'git: unable to add ${name}'"
+              printf %s "echo -markup '{Error}git: unable to add ${name}'"
            fi
            ;;
        rm)
            name="${2:-${kak_buffile}}"
            if git rm -- "${name}" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-              printf %s "echo -color Information 'git: removed ${name}'"
+              printf %s "echo -markup '{Information}git: removed ${name}'"
            else
-              printf %s "echo -color Error 'git: unable to remove ${name}'"
+              printf %s "echo -markup '{Error}git: unable to remove ${name}'"
            fi
            ;;
-       *) printf %s "echo -color Error %{unknown git command '$1'}"; exit ;;
+       *) printf %s "echo -markup %{{Error}unknown git command '$1'}"; exit ;;
     esac
 }}
diff --git a/rc/extra/iterm.kak b/rc/extra/iterm.kak
index 80ed64a8..f4cda7d2 100644
--- a/rc/extra/iterm.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/iterm.kak
@@ -80,5 +80,5 @@ def -params ..1 -client-completion \
 If no client is passed then the current one is used} \
     iterm-focus %{
     # Should be possible using ${kak_client_env_ITERM_SESSION_ID}.
-     %sh{echo "echo -color Error 'Not implemented yet for iTerm'"}
+     %sh{echo "echo -markup '{Error}Not implemented yet for iTerm'"}
 }
diff --git a/rc/extra/moon.kak b/rc/extra/moon.kak
index cbba288c..2f63f60a 100644
--- a/rc/extra/moon.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/moon.kak
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def moon-alternative-file -docstring 'Jump to the alternate file (implementation
     case $kak_buffile in
         *spec/*_spec.moon)
             altfile=$(eval printf %s\\n $(printf %s\\n $kak_buffile | sed s+spec/+'*'/+';'s/_spec//))
-            [ ! -f $altfile ] && echo "echo -color Error 'implementation file not found'" && exit
+            [ ! -f $altfile ] && echo "echo -markup '{Error}implementation file not found'" && exit
         ;;
         *.moon)
             path=$kak_buffile
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ def moon-alternative-file -docstring 'Jump to the alternate file (implementation
                     break
                 fi
             done
-            [ ! -d $altdir ] && echo "echo -color Error 'spec/ not found'" && exit
+            [ ! -d $altdir ] && echo "echo -markup '{Error}spec/ not found'" && exit
         ;;
         *)
-            echo "echo -color Error 'alternative file not found'" && exit
+            echo "echo -markup '{Error}alternative file not found'" && exit
         ;;
     esac
     printf %s\\n "edit $altfile"
diff --git a/rc/extra/tmux-repl.kak b/rc/extra/tmux-repl.kak
index fe191946..f86b84da 100644
--- a/rc/extra/tmux-repl.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/tmux-repl.kak
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ hook global KakBegin .* %{
 def -hidden -params 1..2 tmux-repl-impl %{
     %sh{
         if [ -z "$TMUX" ]; then
-            echo "echo -color Error This command is only available in a tmux session"
+            echo "echo -markup '{Error}This command is only available in a tmux session'"
             exit
         fi
         tmux_args="$1"
@@ -64,5 +64,5 @@ def -hidden tmux-send-text -docstring "Send the selected text to the repl pane"
 
 def -hidden tmux-repl-disabled %{ %sh{
     VERSION_TMUX=$(tmux -V)
-    printf %s "echo -color Error %{The version of tmux is too old: got ${VERSION_TMUX}, expected >= 2.x}"
+    printf %s "echo -markup %{{Error}The version of tmux is too old: got ${VERSION_TMUX}, expected >= 2.x}"
 } }
diff --git a/rc/extra/x11-repl.kak b/rc/extra/x11-repl.kak
index 679c13d8..13bcd88b 100644
--- a/rc/extra/x11-repl.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/x11-repl.kak
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ All optional parameters are forwarded to the new window} \
     -command-completion \
     x11-repl %{ %sh{
         if [ -z "${kak_opt_termcmd}" ]; then
-           echo "echo -color Error 'termcmd option is not set'"
+           echo "echo -markup '{Error}termcmd option is not set'"
            exit
         fi
         if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then cmd="${SHELL:-sh}"; else cmd="$@"; fi
diff --git a/src/commands.cc b/src/commands.cc
index e9bcfb9c..05c9e81e 100644
--- a/src/commands.cc
+++ b/src/commands.cc
@@ -1087,8 +1087,7 @@ const CommandDesc echo_cmd = {
     nullptr,
     "echo <params>...: display given parameters in the status line",
     ParameterDesc{
-        { { "color", { true,  "set message color" } },
-          { "markup", { false, "parse markup" } },
+        { { "markup", { false, "parse markup" } },
           { "debug", { false, "write to debug buffer instead of status line" } } },
         ParameterDesc::Flags::SwitchesOnlyAtStart
     },
@@ -1103,10 +1102,7 @@ const CommandDesc echo_cmd = {
         else if (parser.get_switch("markup"))
             context.print_status(parse_display_line(message));
         else
-        {
-            auto face = get_face(parser.get_switch("color").value_or("StatusLine").str());
-            context.print_status({ std::move(message), face } );
-        }
+            context.print_status({ std::move(message), get_face("StatusLine") });
     }
 };