diff --git a/DOCS/interface-changes/sub-ass-override-colors.txt b/DOCS/interface-changes/sub-ass-override-colors.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..046a531cf0ab5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DOCS/interface-changes/sub-ass-override-colors.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+add `--sub-ass-override-colors` option
diff --git a/DOCS/man/options.rst b/DOCS/man/options.rst
index 7471eda757813..ce610d4f701ca 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/options.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/options.rst
@@ -2668,6 +2668,10 @@ Subtitles
 
     Default: strip.
 
+``--sub-ass-override-colors<default|no|yes>``
+    Toggle for overriding of ass subtitle dialogue colors.
+    When set to default this option is enabled when ``--sub-ass-override`` is higher than ``force``.
+
 ``--sub-ass-force-margins``
     Enables placing toptitles and subtitles in black borders when they are
     available, if the subtitles are in the ASS format.
diff --git a/options/options.c b/options/options.c
index f25d435950142..cea9a342759aa 100644
--- a/options/options.c
+++ b/options/options.c
@@ -329,6 +329,8 @@ const struct m_sub_options mp_subtitle_sub_opts = {
         {"sub-ass-shaper", OPT_REPLACED("sub-shaper")},
         {"sub-ass-prune-delay", OPT_DOUBLE(ass_prune_delay), M_RANGE(-1.0, 10000.0)},
         {"sub-ass-justify", OPT_BOOL(ass_justify)},
+        {"sub-ass-override-colors", OPT_CHOICE(ass_override_colors,
+            {"default", 0}, {"no", 1}, {"yes", 2})},
         {"sub-scale-by-window", OPT_BOOL(sub_scale_by_window)},
         {"sub-scale-with-window", OPT_BOOL(sub_scale_with_window)},
         {"sub-ass-scale-with-window", OPT_BOOL(ass_scale_with_window)},
diff --git a/options/options.h b/options/options.h
index 6f16f50c25ecf..17c8d70faf6ce 100644
--- a/options/options.h
+++ b/options/options.h
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ struct mp_subtitle_opts {
     int sub_shaper;
     double ass_prune_delay;
     bool ass_justify;
+    int ass_override_colors;
     bool sub_clear_on_seek;
     int teletext_page;
     bool sub_past_video_end;
diff --git a/sub/sd_ass.c b/sub/sd_ass.c
index 15d4db7d0bc40..dcb7bc8cd6910 100644
--- a/sub/sd_ass.c
+++ b/sub/sd_ass.c
@@ -567,7 +567,6 @@ static void configure_ass(struct sd *sd, struct mp_osd_res *dim,
     if (total_override) {
         set_force_flags |= ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_FONT_NAME
                             | ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_FONT_SIZE_FIELDS
-                            | ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_COLORS
                             | ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_BORDER;
         if (!opts->sub_scale_signs)
             set_force_flags |= ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_SELECTIVE_FONT_SCALE;
@@ -575,6 +574,8 @@ static void configure_ass(struct sd *sd, struct mp_osd_res *dim,
         set_force_flags |= ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_BLUR;
 #endif
     }
+    if ((opts->ass_override_colors == 0 && total_override) || opts->ass_override_colors == 2)
+        set_force_flags |= ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_COLORS;
     if (shared_opts->ass_style_override[sd->order] == ASS_STYLE_OVERRIDE_SCALE &&
         !opts->sub_scale_signs)
         set_force_flags |= ASS_OVERRIDE_BIT_SELECTIVE_FONT_SCALE;