diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/early_printk.c b/arch/x86/kernel/early_printk.c
index 01d1c18..2a02d82 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/early_printk.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/early_printk.c
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@
 static int max_ypos = 25, max_xpos = 80;
 static int current_ypos = 25, current_xpos;
 
-static void early_vga_write(struct console *con, const char *str, unsigned n)
+static void early_vga_write(struct console *con, const char *str, unsigned n,
+                            unsigned int loglevel)
 {
 	char c;
 	int  i, k, j;
@@ -104,7 +105,8 @@ static int early_serial_putc(unsigned char ch)
 	return timeout ? 0 : -1;
 }
 
-static void early_serial_write(struct console *con, const char *s, unsigned n)
+static void early_serial_write(struct console *con, const char *s, unsigned n,
+                               unsigned int loglevel)
 {
 	while (*s && n-- > 0) {
 		if (*s == '\n')
diff --git a/drivers/accessibility/braille/braille_console.c b/drivers/accessibility/braille/braille_console.c
index dc34a5b..020118b 100644
--- a/drivers/accessibility/braille/braille_console.c
+++ b/drivers/accessibility/braille/braille_console.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static void braille_write(u16 *buf)
 	*c++ = csum;
 	*c++ = ETX;
 
-	braille_co->write(braille_co, data, c - data);
+	braille_co->write(braille_co, data, c - data, 0);
 }
 
 /* Follow the VC cursor*/
diff --git a/drivers/net/netconsole.c b/drivers/net/netconsole.c
index ba2f5e7..b649820 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netconsole.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netconsole.c
@@ -728,7 +728,8 @@ static int netconsole_netdev_event(struct notifier_block *this,
 	.notifier_call  = netconsole_netdev_event,
 };
 
-static void write_msg(struct console *con, const char *msg, unsigned int len)
+static void write_msg(struct console *con, const char *msg, unsigned int len,
+                      unsigned int loglevel)
 {
 	int frag, left;
 	unsigned long flags;
diff --git a/drivers/tty/Kconfig b/drivers/tty/Kconfig
index 978db34..63e7160 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/tty/Kconfig
@@ -75,6 +75,111 @@ config VT_CONSOLE_SLEEP
 	def_bool y
 	depends on VT_CONSOLE && PM_SLEEP
 
+menuconfig VT_CKO
+	bool "Colored kernel message output"
+	depends on VT_CONSOLE
+	---help---
+	  This option enables kernel messages to be emitted in
+	  colors other than the default.
+
+	  The color value you need to enter is composed (OR-ed)
+	  of a foreground and a background color.
+
+	  Foreground:
+	  0x00 = black,   0x08 = dark gray,
+	  0x01 = red,     0x09 = light red,
+	  0x02 = green,   0x0A = light green,
+	  0x03 = brown,   0x0B = yellow,
+	  0x04 = blue,    0x0C = light blue,
+	  0x05 = magenta, 0x0D = light magenta,
+	  0x06 = cyan,    0x0E = light cyan,
+	  0x07 = gray,    0x0F = white,
+
+	  (Foreground colors 0x08 to 0x0F do not work when a VGA
+	  console font with 512 glyphs is used.)
+
+	  Background:
+	  0x00 = black,   0x40 = blue,
+	  0x10 = red,     0x50 = magenta,
+	  0x20 = green,   0x60 = cyan,
+	  0x30 = brown,   0x70 = gray,
+
+	  For example, 0x1F would yield white on red.
+
+	  If unsure, say N.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_EMERG_COLOR
+	hex "Emergency messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel emergency messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_ALERT_COLOR
+	hex "Alert messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel alert messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_CRIT_COLOR
+	hex "Critical messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel critical messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_ERR_COLOR
+	hex "Error messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel error messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_WARNING_COLOR
+	hex "Warning messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel warning messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_NOTICE_COLOR
+	hex "Notice messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel notice messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_INFO_COLOR
+	hex "Information messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel information messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
+config VT_PRINTK_DEBUG_COLOR
+	hex "Debug messages color"
+	range 0x00 0xFF
+	depends on VT_CKO
+	default 0x07
+	---help---
+	  This option defines with which color kernel debug messages will
+	  be printed to the console.
+
 config HW_CONSOLE
 	bool
 	depends on VT && !UML
diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
index e33d38cb..d73fdfb 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
@@ -2850,7 +2850,8 @@ static void serial8250_console_putchar(struct uart_port *port, int ch)
  *	The console_lock must be held when we get here.
  */
 static void
-serial8250_console_write(struct console *co, const char *s, unsigned int count)
+serial8250_console_write(struct console *co, const char *s, unsigned int count,
+                         unsigned int loglevel)
 {
 	struct uart_8250_port *up = &serial8250_ports[co->index];
 	struct uart_port *port = &up->port;
diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_early.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_early.c
index c100d63..bb28b49 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_early.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_early.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static void __init serial_putc(struct uart_port *port, int c)
 }
 
 static void __init early_serial8250_write(struct console *console,
-					const char *s, unsigned int count)
+          const char *s, unsigned int count, unsigned int loglevel)
 {
 	struct uart_port *port = &early_device.port;
 	unsigned int ier;
diff --git a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
index 61b1137..f1fa906 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <linux/module.h>
+#include <linux/moduleparam.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/sched.h>
 #include <linux/tty.h>
@@ -2430,16 +2431,44 @@ int vt_kmsg_redirect(int new)
 		return kmsg_con;
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_VT_CKO
+static unsigned int printk_color[8] __read_mostly = {
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_EMERG_COLOR,	/* KERN_EMERG */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_ALERT_COLOR,	/* KERN_ALERT */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_CRIT_COLOR,	/* KERN_CRIT */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_ERR_COLOR,	/* KERN_ERR */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_WARNING_COLOR,	/* KERN_WARNING */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_NOTICE_COLOR,	/* KERN_NOTICE */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_INFO_COLOR,	/* KERN_INFO */
+	CONFIG_VT_PRINTK_DEBUG_COLOR,	/* KERN_DEBUG */
+};
+module_param_array(printk_color, uint, NULL, S_IRUGO | S_IWUSR);
+
+static inline void vc_set_color(struct vc_data *vc, unsigned char color)
+{
+	vc->vc_color = color_table[color & 0xF] |
+	               (color_table[(color >> 4) & 0x7] << 4) |
+	               (color & 0x80);
+	update_attr(vc);
+}
+#else
+static unsigned int printk_color[8];
+static inline void vc_set_color(const struct vc_data *vc, unsigned char c)
+{
+}
+#endif
+
 /*
  *	Console on virtual terminal
  *
  * The console must be locked when we get here.
  */
 
-static void vt_console_print(struct console *co, const char *b, unsigned count)
+static void vt_console_print(struct console *co, const char *b, unsigned count,
+			     unsigned int loglevel)
 {
 	struct vc_data *vc = vc_cons[fg_console].d;
-	unsigned char c;
+	unsigned char current_color, c;
 	static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(printing_lock);
 	const ushort *start;
 	ushort cnt = 0;
@@ -2475,11 +2504,20 @@ static void vt_console_print(struct console *co, const char *b, unsigned count)
 
 	start = (ushort *)vc->vc_pos;
 
+	/*
+	 * We always get a valid loglevel - <8> and "no level" is transformed
+	 * to <4> in the typical kernel.
+	 */
+	current_color = printk_color[loglevel];
+	vc_set_color(vc, current_color);
+
+
 	/* Contrived structure to try to emulate original need_wrap behaviour
 	 * Problems caused when we have need_wrap set on '\n' character */
 	while (count--) {
 		c = *b++;
 		if (c == 10 || c == 13 || c == 8 || vc->vc_need_wrap) {
+			vc_set_color(vc, vc->vc_def_color);
 			if (cnt > 0) {
 				if (CON_IS_VISIBLE(vc))
 					vc->vc_sw->con_putcs(vc, start, cnt, vc->vc_y, vc->vc_x);
@@ -2492,6 +2530,7 @@ static void vt_console_print(struct console *co, const char *b, unsigned count)
 				bs(vc);
 				start = (ushort *)vc->vc_pos;
 				myx = vc->vc_x;
+				vc_set_color(vc, current_color);
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (c != 13)
@@ -2499,6 +2538,7 @@ static void vt_console_print(struct console *co, const char *b, unsigned count)
 			cr(vc);
 			start = (ushort *)vc->vc_pos;
 			myx = vc->vc_x;
+			vc_set_color(vc, current_color);
 			if (c == 10 || c == 13)
 				continue;
 		}
@@ -2521,6 +2561,7 @@ static void vt_console_print(struct console *co, const char *b, unsigned count)
 			vc->vc_need_wrap = 1;
 		}
 	}
+	vc_set_color(vc, vc->vc_def_color);
 	set_cursor(vc);
 	notify_update(vc);
 
diff --git a/include/linux/console.h b/include/linux/console.h
index 7571a16..af01c35 100644
--- a/include/linux/console.h
+++ b/include/linux/console.h
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static inline int con_debug_leave(void)
 
 struct console {
 	char	name[16];
-	void	(*write)(struct console *, const char *, unsigned);
+	void	(*write)(struct console *, const char *, unsigned, unsigned int);
 	int	(*read)(struct console *, char *, unsigned);
 	struct tty_driver *(*device)(struct console *, int *);
 	void	(*unblank)(void);
diff --git a/kernel/printk/printk.c b/kernel/printk/printk.c
index be7c86b..8517cbe 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/printk.c
+++ b/kernel/printk/printk.c
@@ -1282,7 +1282,7 @@ static void call_console_drivers(int level, const char *text, size_t len)
 		if (!cpu_online(smp_processor_id()) &&
 		    !(con->flags & CON_ANYTIME))
 			continue;
-		con->write(con, text, len);
+		con->write(con, text, len, level);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1732,7 +1732,7 @@ void early_vprintk(const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 		char buf[512];
 		int n = vscnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), fmt, ap);
 
-		early_console->write(early_console, buf, n);
+		early_console->write(early_console, buf, n, 0);
 	}
 }
 
