diff --git a/.vsts-ci/linux.yml b/.vsts-ci/linux.yml
index 5218a20cf9..1236a0e278 100644
--- a/.vsts-ci/linux.yml
+++ b/.vsts-ci/linux.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ variables:
   POWERSHELL_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT: 1
   # Avoid expensive initialization of dotnet cli, see: https://donovanbrown.com/post/Stop-wasting-time-during-NET-Core-builds
   DOTNET_SKIP_FIRST_TIME_EXPERIENCE: 1
+  __SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences: 1
 
 resources:
 - repo: self
diff --git a/.vsts-ci/mac.yml b/.vsts-ci/mac.yml
index 1df0bcf611..b048a248bb 100644
--- a/.vsts-ci/mac.yml
+++ b/.vsts-ci/mac.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ variables:
   DOTNET_SKIP_FIRST_TIME_EXPERIENCE: 1
   # Turn off Homebrew analytics
   HOMEBREW_NO_ANALYTICS: 1
+  __SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences: 1
 
 resources:
 - repo: self
diff --git a/.vsts-ci/windows-daily.yml b/.vsts-ci/windows-daily.yml
index 65390776c1..7b9408eec7 100644
--- a/.vsts-ci/windows-daily.yml
+++ b/.vsts-ci/windows-daily.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ variables:
   POWERSHELL_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT: 1
   # Avoid expensive initialization of dotnet cli, see: https://donovanbrown.com/post/Stop-wasting-time-during-NET-Core-builds
   DOTNET_SKIP_FIRST_TIME_EXPERIENCE: 1
+  __SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences: 1
 
 resources:
 - repo: self
diff --git a/.vsts-ci/windows.yml b/.vsts-ci/windows.yml
index 2881a6a4fb..84a9435d04 100644
--- a/.vsts-ci/windows.yml
+++ b/.vsts-ci/windows.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ variables:
   POWERSHELL_TELEMETRY_OPTOUT: 1
   # Avoid expensive initialization of dotnet cli, see: https://donovanbrown.com/post/Stop-wasting-time-during-NET-Core-builds
   DOTNET_SKIP_FIRST_TIME_EXPERIENCE: 1
+  __SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences: 1
 
 resources:
 - repo: self
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.Utility/commands/utility/MatchString.cs b/src/Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.Utility/commands/utility/MatchString.cs
index f1052cbea5..584a3ebe6c 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.Utility/commands/utility/MatchString.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.Utility/commands/utility/MatchString.cs
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Returns the string representation of the match object with the matched line passed 
+        /// Returns the string representation of the match object with the matched line passed
         /// in as <paramref name="line"/> and trims the path to be relative to
         /// the<paramref name="directory"/> argument.
         /// </summary>
@@ -315,10 +315,10 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands
         /// <returns>The matched line with matched text inverted.</returns>
         private string EmphasizeLine()
         {
-            const string InvertColorsVT100 = "\u001b[7m";
-            const string ResetVT100 = "\u001b[0m";
+            string invertColorsVT100 = VTUtility.GetEscapeSequence(VTUtility.VT.Inverse);
+            string resetVT100 = VTUtility.GetEscapeSequence(VTUtility.VT.Reset);
 
-            char[] chars = new char[(_matchIndexes.Count * (InvertColorsVT100.Length + ResetVT100.Length)) + Line.Length];
+            char[] chars = new char[(_matchIndexes.Count * (invertColorsVT100.Length + resetVT100.Length)) + Line.Length];
             int lineIndex = 0;
             int charsIndex = 0;
             for (int i = 0; i < _matchIndexes.Count; i++)
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands
                 lineIndex = _matchIndexes[i];
 
                 // Adds opening vt sequence
-                InvertColorsVT100.CopyTo(0, chars, charsIndex, InvertColorsVT100.Length);
-                charsIndex += InvertColorsVT100.Length;
+                invertColorsVT100.CopyTo(0, chars, charsIndex, invertColorsVT100.Length);
+                charsIndex += invertColorsVT100.Length;
 
                 // Adds characters being emphasized
                 Line.CopyTo(lineIndex, chars, charsIndex, _matchLengths[i]);
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands
                 charsIndex += _matchLengths[i];
 
                 // Adds closing vt sequence
-                ResetVT100.CopyTo(0, chars, charsIndex, ResetVT100.Length);
-                charsIndex += ResetVT100.Length;
+                resetVT100.CopyTo(0, chars, charsIndex, resetVT100.Length);
+                charsIndex += resetVT100.Length;
             }
 
             // Adds remaining characters in line
@@ -1294,8 +1294,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands
         private int _postContext = 0;
 
         // When we are in Raw mode or pre- and postcontext are zero, use the _noContextTracker, since we will not be needing trackedLines.
-        private IContextTracker GetContextTracker() => (Raw || (_preContext == 0 && _postContext == 0)) 
-            ? _noContextTracker 
+        private IContextTracker GetContextTracker() => (Raw || (_preContext == 0 && _postContext == 0))
+            ? _noContextTracker
             : new ContextTracker(_preContext, _postContext);
 
         // This context tracker is only used for strings which are piped
@@ -1322,6 +1322,12 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands
         /// </summary>
         protected override void BeginProcessing()
         {
+            string suppressVt = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences");
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(suppressVt))
+            {
+                NoEmphasis = true;
+            }
+
             if (!SimpleMatch)
             {
                 RegexOptions regexOptions = CaseSensitive ? RegexOptions.None : RegexOptions.IgnoreCase;
diff --git a/src/System.Management.Automation/FormatAndOutput/DefaultFormatters/PowerShellCore_format_ps1xml.cs b/src/System.Management.Automation/FormatAndOutput/DefaultFormatters/PowerShellCore_format_ps1xml.cs
index 4bfecc19da..e8c2f2e7bd 100644
--- a/src/System.Management.Automation/FormatAndOutput/DefaultFormatters/PowerShellCore_format_ps1xml.cs
+++ b/src/System.Management.Automation/FormatAndOutput/DefaultFormatters/PowerShellCore_format_ps1xml.cs
@@ -741,35 +741,18 @@ namespace System.Management.Automation.Runspaces
                             $maxDepth = 10
                             $ellipsis = ""`u{2026}""
                             $resetColor = ''
-                            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal) {
-                                $resetColor = ""`e[0m""
+                            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -and !(Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences)) {
+                                $resetColor = [System.Management.Automation.VTUtility]::GetEscapeSequence(
+                                    [System.Management.Automation.VTUtility+VT]::Reset
+                                )
                             }
 
-                            function Get-VT100Color([string] $color) {
-                                if (! $Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal) {
+                            function Get-VT100Color([ConsoleColor] $color) {
+                                if (!$Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -or (Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences)) {
                                     return ''
                                 }
 
-                                $colors = @{
-                                    'Black' = ""`e[2;30m""
-                                    'DarkRed' = ""`e[2;31m""
-                                    'DarkGreen' = ""`e[2;32m""
-                                    'DarkYellow' = ""`e[2;33m""
-                                    'DarkBlue' = ""`e[2;34m""
-                                    'DarkMagenta' = ""`e[2;35m""
-                                    'DarkCyan' = ""`e[2;36m""
-                                    'Gray' = ""`e[2;37m""
-                                    'DarkGray' = ""`e[1;30m""
-                                    'Red' = ""`e[1;31m""
-                                    'Green' = ""`e[1;32m""
-                                    'Yellow' = ""`e[1;33m""
-                                    'Blue' = ""`e[1;34m""
-                                    'Magenta' = ""`e[1;35m""
-                                    'Cyan' = ""`e[1;36m""
-                                    'White' = ""`e[1;37m""
-                                }
-
-                                return $colors[$color]
+                                return [System.Management.Automation.VTUtility]::GetEscapeSequence($color)
                             }
 
                             function Show-ErrorRecord($obj, [int]$indent = 0, [int]$depth = 1) {
@@ -981,35 +964,18 @@ namespace System.Management.Automation.Runspaces
                                         Set-StrictMode -Off
 
                                         $resetColor = ''
-                                        if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal) {
-                                            $resetColor = ""`e[0m""
+                                        if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -and !(Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences)) {
+                                            $resetColor = [System.Management.Automation.VTUtility]::GetEscapeSequence(
+                                                [System.Management.Automation.VTUtility+VT]::Reset
+                                            )
                                         }
 
-                                        function Get-VT100Color([string] $color) {
-                                            if (! $Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal) {
+                                        function Get-VT100Color([ConsoleColor] $color) {
+                                            if (!$Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -or (Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences)) {
                                                 return ''
                                             }
 
-                                            $colors = @{
-                                                'Black' = ""`e[2;30m""
-                                                'DarkRed' = ""`e[2;31m""
-                                                'DarkGreen' = ""`e[2;32m""
-                                                'DarkYellow' = ""`e[2;33m""
-                                                'DarkBlue' = ""`e[2;34m""
-                                                'DarkMagenta' = ""`e[2;35m""
-                                                'DarkCyan' = ""`e[2;36m""
-                                                'Gray' = ""`e[2;37m""
-                                                'DarkGray' = ""`e[1;30m""
-                                                'Red' = ""`e[1;31m""
-                                                'Green' = ""`e[1;32m""
-                                                'Yellow' = ""`e[1;33m""
-                                                'Blue' = ""`e[1;34m""
-                                                'Magenta' = ""`e[1;35m""
-                                                'Cyan' = ""`e[1;36m""
-                                                'White' = ""`e[1;37m""
-                                            }
-
-                                            return $colors[$color]
+                                            return [System.Management.Automation.VTUtility]::GetEscapeSequence($color)
                                         }
 
                                         # return length of string sans VT100 codes
diff --git a/src/System.Management.Automation/utils/VTUtils.cs b/src/System.Management.Automation/utils/VTUtils.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ff110dd42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/System.Management.Automation/utils/VTUtils.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the MIT License.
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace System.Management.Automation
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Class to help with VT escape sequences.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class VTUtility
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Available VT escape codes other than colors.
+        /// </summary>
+        public enum VT
+        {
+            /// <summary>Reset the text style.</summary>
+            Reset,
+
+            /// <summary>Invert the foreground and background colors.</summary>
+            Inverse
+        }
+
+        private static readonly Dictionary<ConsoleColor, string> ConsoleColors = new Dictionary<ConsoleColor, string>
+        {
+            { ConsoleColor.Black, "\x1b[2;30m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Gray, "\x1b[2;37m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Red, "\x1b[1;31m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Green, "\x1b[1;32m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Yellow, "\x1b[1;33m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Blue, "\x1b[1;34m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Magenta, "\x1b[1;35m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.Cyan, "\x1b[1;36m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.White, "\x1b[1;37m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkRed, "\x1b[2;31m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkGreen, "\x1b[2;32m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkYellow, "\x1b[2;33m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkBlue, "\x1b[2;34m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkMagenta, "\x1b[2;35m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkCyan, "\x1b[2;36m" },
+            { ConsoleColor.DarkGray, "\x1b[1;30m" },
+        };
+
+        private static readonly Dictionary<VT, string> VTCodes = new Dictionary<VT, string>
+        {
+            { VT.Reset, "\x1b[0m" },
+            { VT.Inverse, "\x1b[7m" }
+        };
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Return the VT escape sequence for a ConsoleColor.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="color">
+        /// The ConsoleColor to return the equivalent VT escape sequence.
+        /// </param>
+        /// <returns>
+        /// The requested VT escape sequence.
+        /// </returns>
+        public static string GetEscapeSequence(ConsoleColor color)
+        {
+            string value = string.Empty;
+            ConsoleColors.TryGetValue(color, out value);
+            return value;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Return the VT escape sequence for a supported VT enum value.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="vt">
+        /// The VT code to return the VT escape sequence.
+        /// </param>
+        /// <returns>
+        /// The requested VT escape sequence.
+        /// </returns>
+        public static string GetEscapeSequence(VT vt)
+        {
+            string value = string.Empty;
+            VTCodes.TryGetValue(vt, out value);
+            return value;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/powershell/Language/Scripting/SuppressAnsiEscapeSequence.Tests.ps1 b/test/powershell/Language/Scripting/SuppressAnsiEscapeSequence.Tests.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c46674ff3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/powershell/Language/Scripting/SuppressAnsiEscapeSequence.Tests.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+# Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+# Licensed under the MIT License.
+
+Describe '$env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences tests' -Tag CI {
+    BeforeAll {
+        $originalSuppressPref = $env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences
+    }
+
+    AfterAll {
+        $env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences = $originalSuppressPref
+    }
+
+
+    Context 'Allow Escape Sequences' {
+        BeforeAll {
+            Remove-Item env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences -ErrorAction Ignore
+        }
+
+        It 'Select-String emits VT' {
+            "select this string" | Select-String 'this' | Out-String |Should -BeLikeExactly "*`e*"
+        }
+
+        It 'ConciseView emits VT' {
+            $oldErrorView = $ErrorView
+
+            try {
+                $ErrorView = 'ConciseView'
+                Invoke-Expression '1/d'
+            }
+            catch {
+                $e = $_
+            }
+            finally {
+                $ErrorView = $oldErrorView
+            }
+
+            $e | Out-String | Should -BeLikeExactly "*`e*"
+        }
+
+        It 'Get-Error emits VT' {
+            try {
+                1/0
+            }
+            catch {
+                # ignore
+            }
+
+            Get-Error | Out-String | Should -BeLikeExactly "*`e*"
+        }
+    }
+
+    Context 'No Escape Sequences' {
+        BeforeAll {
+            $env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences = 1
+        }
+
+        It 'Select-String does not emit VT' {
+            "select this string" | Select-String 'this' | Out-String | Should -Not -BeLikeExactly "*`e*"
+        }
+
+        It 'ConciseView does not emit VT' {
+            $oldErrorView = $ErrorView
+
+            try {
+                $ErrorView = 'ConciseView'
+                Invoke-Expression '1/d'
+            }
+            catch {
+                $e = $_
+            }
+            finally {
+                $ErrorView = $oldErrorView
+            }
+
+            $e | Out-String | Should -Not -BeLikeExactly "*`e*"
+        }
+
+        It 'Get-Error does not emit VT' {
+            try {
+                1/0
+            }
+            catch {
+                # ignore
+            }
+
+            Get-Error | Out-String | Should -Not -BeLikeExactly "*`e*"
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/powershell/Modules/Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility/Select-String.Tests.ps1 b/test/powershell/Modules/Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility/Select-String.Tests.ps1
index 8a73ddfe8b..9b5bc1b966 100644
--- a/test/powershell/Modules/Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility/Select-String.Tests.ps1
+++ b/test/powershell/Modules/Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility/Select-String.Tests.ps1
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ Describe "Select-String" -Tags "CI" {
         $currentDirectory = $pwd.Path
     }
 
+    AfterAll {
+        Push-Location $currentDirectory
+    }
+
     Context "String actions" {
         $testinputone = "hello","Hello","goodbye"
         $testinputtwo = "hello","Hello"
@@ -76,47 +80,47 @@ Describe "Select-String" -Tags "CI" {
         }
 
         it "Should output a string with the first match highlighted" {
-            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal)
+            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -and !(Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences))
             {
                 $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" | Out-String
-                $result | Should -Be "`nhe`e[7ml`e[0mlo`nHe`e[7ml`e[0mlo`n`n"
+                $result | Should -Be "${nl}he`e[7ml`e[0mlo${nl}He`e[7ml`e[0mlo${nl}${nl}"
             }
             else
             {
                 $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" | Out-String
-                $result | Should -Be "`nhello`nHello`n`n"
+                $result | Should -Be "${nl}hello${nl}Hello${nl}${nl}"
             }
         }
 
         it "Should output a string with all matches highlighted when AllMatch is used" {
-            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal)
+            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -and !(Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences))
             {
                 $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" -AllMatch | Out-String
-                $result | Should -Be "`nhe`e[7ml`e[0m`e[7ml`e[0mo`nHe`e[7ml`e[0m`e[7ml`e[0mo`n`n"
+                $result | Should -Be "${nl}he`e[7ml`e[0m`e[7ml`e[0mo${nl}He`e[7ml`e[0m`e[7ml`e[0mo${nl}${nl}"
             }
             else
             {
                 $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" -AllMatch | Out-String
-                $result | Should -Be "`nhello`nHello`n`n"
+                $result | Should -Be "${nl}hello${nl}Hello${nl}${nl}"
             }
         }
 
         it "Should output a string with the first match highlighted when SimpleMatch is used" {
-            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal)
+            if ($Host.UI.SupportsVirtualTerminal -and !(Test-Path env:__SuppressAnsiEscapeSequences))
             {
                 $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" -SimpleMatch | Out-String
-                $result | Should -Be "`nhe`e[7ml`e[0mlo`nHe`e[7ml`e[0mlo`n`n"
+                $result | Should -Be "${nl}he`e[7ml`e[0mlo${nl}He`e[7ml`e[0mlo${nl}${nl}"
             }
             else
             {
                 $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" -SimpleMatch | Out-String
-                $result | Should -Be "`nhello`nHello`n`n"
+                $result | Should -Be "${nl}hello${nl}Hello${nl}${nl}"
             }
         }
 
         it "Should output a string without highlighting when NoEmphasis is used" {
             $result = $testinputone | Select-String -Pattern "l" -NoEmphasis | Out-String
-            $result | Should -Be "`nhello`nHello`n`n"
+            $result | Should -Be "${nl}hello${nl}Hello${nl}${nl}"
         }
 
         it "Should return an array of matching strings without virtual terminal sequences" {
@@ -247,8 +251,4 @@ Describe "Select-String" -Tags "CI" {
             Select-String second $testInputFile -Raw -Context 2,2 | Should -BeExactly $expected
         }
     }
-
-    AfterAll {
-        Push-Location $currentDirectory
-    }
 }