diff --git a/sbysrc/sby.py b/sbysrc/sby.py
index 1403658..5052128 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby.py
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 
 import argparse, json, os, sys, shutil, tempfile, re
 ##yosys-sys-path##
-from sby_core import SbyConfig, SbyTask, SbyAbort, SbyTaskloop, process_filename
+from sby_core import SbyConfig, SbyTask, SbyAbort, SbyTaskloop, process_filename, dress_message
 from sby_jobserver import SbyJobClient, process_jobserver_environment
-import time, platform
+import time, platform, click
 
 process_jobserver_environment()  # needs to be called early
 
@@ -177,9 +177,8 @@ prep -top top
 early_logmsgs = list()
 
 def early_log(workdir, msg):
-    tm = time.localtime()
-    early_logmsgs.append("SBY {:2d}:{:02d}:{:02d} [{}] {}".format(tm.tm_hour, tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec, workdir, msg))
-    print(early_logmsgs[-1])
+    early_logmsgs.append(dress_message(workdir, msg))
+    click.echo(early_logmsgs[-1])
 
 def read_sbyconfig(sbydata, taskname):
     cfgdata = list()
@@ -567,7 +566,6 @@ else:
             failed.append(taskname)
 
 if failed and (len(tasknames) > 1 or tasknames[0] is not None):
-    tm = time.localtime()
-    print("SBY {:2d}:{:02d}:{:02d} The following tasks failed: {}".format(tm.tm_hour, tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec, failed))
+    click.echo(dress_message(None, click.style(f"The following tasks failed: {failed}", fg="red", bold=True)))
 
 sys.exit(retcode)
diff --git a/sbysrc/sby_core.py b/sbysrc/sby_core.py
index 98ddaf0..317c958 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby_core.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby_core.py
@@ -46,6 +46,16 @@ def process_filename(filename):
 
     return filename
 
+def dress_message(workdir, logmessage):
+    tm = localtime()
+    if workdir is not None:
+        logmessage = "[" + click.style(workdir, fg="blue") + "] " + logmessage
+    return " ".join([
+        click.style("SBY", fg="blue"),
+        click.style("{:2d}:{:02d}:{:02d}".format(tm.tm_hour, tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec), fg="green"),
+        logmessage
+    ])
+
 class SbyProc:
     def __init__(self, task, info, deps, cmdline, logfile=None, logstderr=True, silent=False):
         self.running = False
@@ -680,18 +690,9 @@ class SbyTask(SbyConfig):
         self.procs_pending.remove(proc)
         self.taskloop.procs_pending.remove(proc)
 
-    def dress_message(self, logmessage):
-        tm = localtime()
-        return " ".join([
-            click.style("SBY", fg="blue"),
-            click.style("{:2d}:{:02d}:{:02d}".format(tm.tm_hour, tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec), fg="green"),
-            "[" + click.style(self.workdir, fg="blue") + "]",
-            logmessage
-        ])
-
     def log(self, logmessage):
         tm = localtime()
-        line = self.dress_message(logmessage)
+        line = dress_message(self.workdir, logmessage)
         for target in self.log_targets:
             click.echo(line, file=target)