diff --git a/aliases/available/general.aliases.bash b/aliases/available/general.aliases.bash
index 99939386..38a8bfe6 100644
--- a/aliases/available/general.aliases.bash
+++ b/aliases/available/general.aliases.bash
@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
 cite about-alias
 about-alias 'general aliases'
 
+if ls --color -d . &> /dev/null
+then
+  alias ls="ls --color=auto"
+elif ls -G -d . &> /dev/null
+then
+  alias ls='ls -G'        # Compact view, show colors
+fi
+
 # List directory contents
 alias sl=ls
-alias ls='ls -G'        # Compact view, show colors
 alias la='ls -AF'       # Compact view, show hidden
 alias ll='ls -al'
 alias l='ls -a'
@@ -11,10 +18,15 @@ alias l1='ls -1'
 
 alias _="sudo"
 
-if [ $(uname) = "Linux" ]
+# colored grep
+# Need to check an existing file for a pattern that will be found to ensure
+# that the check works when on an OS that supports the color option
+if grep --color=auto "a" $BASH_IT/*.md &> /dev/null
 then
-  alias ls="ls --color=auto"
+  alias grep='grep --color=auto'
+  export GREP_COLOR='1;33'
 fi
+
 which gshuf &> /dev/null
 if [ $? -eq 0 ]
 then
diff --git a/lib/appearance.bash b/lib/appearance.bash
index 4270f7e4..48134c98 100644
--- a/lib/appearance.bash
+++ b/lib/appearance.bash
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-# colored grep
-alias grep='grep --color=auto'
-export GREP_COLOR='1;33'
-
 # colored ls
 export LSCOLORS='Gxfxcxdxdxegedabagacad'