diff --git a/lib/reporters/base.js b/lib/reporters/base.js
index c6b5312491..78858c9e4a 100644
--- a/lib/reporters/base.js
+++ b/lib/reporters/base.js
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ exports.colors = {
   green: 32,
   light: 90,
   'diff gutter': 90,
-  'diff added': 32,
-  'diff removed': 31
+  'diff added': '30;42',
+  'diff removed': '30;41'
 };
 
 /**
@@ -390,10 +390,6 @@ function pad(str, len) {
  * @return {string} Diff
  */
 function inlineDiff(actual, expected) {
-  // make spaces visible by replacing them with U+2423 (open box char)
-  actual = actual.replace(/ /gi, '\u2423');
-  expected = expected.replace(/ /gi, '\u2423');
-
   var msg = errorDiff(actual, expected);
 
   // linenos