diff --git a/marcgrep/color.py b/marcgrep/color.py
index 8982525..305de7c 100644
--- a/marcgrep/color.py
+++ b/marcgrep/color.py
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ def color_field(field: Field, invert: bool) -> None:
 
 
 def color_record(record: Record, invert: bool) -> None:
+    # create COLORS global if we have not already
+    if not globals().get("COLOR"):
+        _setup_colors(invert)
+
+    cprint("LDR", COLORS["TAG"], end=" ")
+    cprint(record.leader, COLORS["DATA"])
     for field in record:
         color_field(field, invert)
     click.echo()
diff --git a/test/test_cli.py b/test/test_cli.py
index be5f4b8..b64cc28 100644
--- a/test/test_cli.py
+++ b/test/test_cli.py
@@ -180,3 +180,9 @@ def test_glob(self):
         )
         assert result.exit_code == 0
         assert len(result.output.splitlines()) == 1
+
+    def test_color_leader(self):
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--color", ONE_RECORD])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert result.output.splitlines()[0] == "LDR 03292namaa2200793uu 4500"