diff --git a/cli/src/formatter.rs b/cli/src/formatter.rs
index 2d8b97a54a..c81bda7640 100644
--- a/cli/src/formatter.rs
+++ b/cli/src/formatter.rs
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ impl<W: Write> Write for ColorFormatter<W> {
             labels: &[String],
             debug: bool,
         ) -> io::Result<()> {
-            if debug {
+            if debug && !labels.is_empty() {
                 write!(output, "<<{}::", labels.join(" "))?;
                 write_sanitized(output, buf)?;
                 write!(output, ">>")?;
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs b/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
index 7db6f4ddb3..8c16ea8c73 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
@@ -490,9 +490,9 @@ fn test_color_ui_messages() {
     // debugging colors
     let (stdout, _stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&repo_path, &["st", "--color", "debug"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @r###"
-    <<::The working copy is clean>>
-    <<::Working copy : >><<working_copy change_id shortest prefix::m>><<working_copy change_id shortest rest::zvwutvl>><<working_copy:: >><<working_copy commit_id shortest prefix::1>><<working_copy commit_id shortest rest::67f90e7>><<working_copy:: >><<working_copy empty::(empty)>><<working_copy:: >><<working_copy empty description placeholder::(no description set)>><<::>>
-    <<::Parent commit: >><<change_id shortest prefix::q>><<change_id shortest rest::pvuntsm>><<:: >><<commit_id shortest prefix::2>><<commit_id shortest rest::30dd059>><<:: >><<empty::(empty)>><<:: >><<empty description placeholder::(no description set)>><<::>>
+    The working copy is clean
+    Working copy : <<working_copy change_id shortest prefix::m>><<working_copy change_id shortest rest::zvwutvl>><<working_copy:: >><<working_copy commit_id shortest prefix::1>><<working_copy commit_id shortest rest::67f90e7>><<working_copy:: >><<working_copy empty::(empty)>><<working_copy:: >><<working_copy empty description placeholder::(no description set)>>
+    Parent commit: <<change_id shortest prefix::q>><<change_id shortest rest::pvuntsm>> <<commit_id shortest prefix::2>><<commit_id shortest rest::30dd059>> <<empty::(empty)>> <<empty description placeholder::(no description set)>>
     "###);
 }