diff --git a/jc/cli.py b/jc/cli.py
index d9dda9da..e745ab2a 100644
--- a/jc/cli.py
+++ b/jc/cli.py
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ def versiontext():
 
 def json_out(data, pretty=False, env_colors=None, mono=False, piped_out=False):
     """Return a JSON formatted string. String may include color codes or be pretty printed."""
+    separators = (',', ':')
     if not mono and not piped_out:
         # set colors
         class JcStyle(Style):
@@ -389,13 +390,13 @@ def json_out(data, pretty=False, env_colors=None, mono=False, piped_out=False):
             return str(highlight(json.dumps(data, indent=2, ensure_ascii=False),
                                  JsonLexer(), Terminal256Formatter(style=JcStyle))[0:-1])
         else:
-            return str(highlight(json.dumps(data, separators=(',', ':'), ensure_ascii=False),
+            return str(highlight(json.dumps(data, separators=separators, ensure_ascii=False),
                                  JsonLexer(), Terminal256Formatter(style=JcStyle))[0:-1])
     else:
         if pretty:
             return json.dumps(data, indent=2, ensure_ascii=False)
         else:
-            return json.dumps(data, separators=(',', ':'), ensure_ascii=False)
+            return json.dumps(data, separators=separators, ensure_ascii=False)
 
 
 def magic_parser(args):