diff --git a/django/utils/termcolors.py b/django/utils/termcolors.py
index 4f74b564a5a..bb14837716b 100644
--- a/django/utils/termcolors.py
+++ b/django/utils/termcolors.py
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ def colorize(text='', opts=(), **kwargs):
         if o in opt_dict:
             code_list.append(opt_dict[o])
     if 'noreset' not in opts:
-        text = text + '\x1b[%sm' % RESET
-    return ('\x1b[%sm' % ';'.join(code_list)) + text
+        text = '%s\x1b[%sm' % (text or '', RESET)
+    return '%s%s' % (('\x1b[%sm' % ';'.join(code_list)), text or '')
 
 def make_style(opts=(), **kwargs):
     """
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/utils/termcolors.py b/tests/regressiontests/utils/termcolors.py
index 23fcf557f82..8cc28009cdd 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/utils/termcolors.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/utils/termcolors.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from django.utils import unittest
-from django.utils.termcolors import parse_color_setting, PALETTES, DEFAULT_PALETTE, LIGHT_PALETTE, DARK_PALETTE, NOCOLOR_PALETTE
+from django.utils.termcolors import (parse_color_setting, PALETTES,
+    DEFAULT_PALETTE, LIGHT_PALETTE, DARK_PALETTE, NOCOLOR_PALETTE, colorize)
+
 
 class TermColorTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -146,3 +148,10 @@ class TermColorTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(parse_color_setting('error=green,bLiNk'),
                           dict(PALETTES[NOCOLOR_PALETTE],
                             ERROR={'fg':'green', 'opts': ('blink',)}))
+
+    def test_colorize_empty_text(self):
+        self.assertEqual(colorize(text=None), '\x1b[m\x1b[0m')
+        self.assertEqual(colorize(text=''), '\x1b[m\x1b[0m')
+
+        self.assertEqual(colorize(text=None, opts=('noreset')), '\x1b[m')
+        self.assertEqual(colorize(text='', opts=('noreset')), '\x1b[m')