diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6fb55fb..5bd6c05 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 from distutils.command.build import build as _build
-from distutils.command.build_ext import build_ext as _build_ext
-from setuptools import Extension
 from spintrum import meta
 import os
 import sys
@@ -73,7 +71,7 @@ def mkdir_p(path):
 
 def deal_with_error_code(err_code, operation_name):
     if err_code != 0:
-        sys.stderr.write("A non-zero error code was returned at operation: " +
+        _print_error("A non-zero error code was returned at operation: " +
                          str(operation_name) + ". Code returned is: " +
                          str(err_code) + ". Exiting!\n")
         sys.exit(1)
@@ -105,10 +103,14 @@ def clone_git_repository(dir, repos_link):
     deal_with_error_code(err_code, "Cloning: " + repos_link)
     print("Done cloning repository: " + repos_link)
 
+question_color_start = "\x1b[0;37;44m"
+color_end = "\x1b[0m"
 
 def ask_openblas_optimization_level():
     print("\n")
-    print("Which optimization option would you like to use to compile OpenBLAS?")
+    print(question_color_start +
+          "Which optimization option would you like to use to compile OpenBLAS?" +
+          color_end)
     print("For more information on what the options mean, please visit:")
     print("https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Optimize-Options.html")
     print("1) -O2")
@@ -116,7 +118,8 @@ def ask_openblas_optimization_level():
     print("3) -Ofast")
     print("4) Keep the default")
     print("5) Skip compiling OpenBLAS and assume it exists in the system")
-    option_chosen = input("Please enter the option number: ")
+    sys.stdout.write("Please enter the option number: ")
+    option_chosen = input()
     if option_chosen.replace(" ", "") == '1':
         return "-O2"
     elif option_chosen.replace(" ", "") == '2':
@@ -133,7 +136,9 @@ def ask_openblas_optimization_level():
 
 def ask_spintrum_optimization_level():
     print("\n")
-    print("Which optimization option would you like to use to compile Spintrum?")
+    print(question_color_start +
+          "Which optimization option would you like to use to compile Spintrum?" +
+          color_end)
     print("For more information on what the options mean, please visit:")
     print("https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Optimize-Options.html")
     print("1) -g")
@@ -141,7 +146,8 @@ def ask_spintrum_optimization_level():
     print("3) -O2")
     print("4) -O3")
     print("5) -Ofast")
-    option_chosen = input("Please enter the option number: ")
+    sys.stdout.write("Please enter the option number: ")
+    option_chosen = input("")
     if option_chosen.replace(" ", "") == '1':
         return "-g"
     elif option_chosen.replace(" ", "") == '2':
@@ -192,7 +198,7 @@ class DependenciesBuilder(_build):
             clone_git_repository(openblas_full_path, openblas_git)
             if openblas_target_optimization != "":
                 if not os.path.isdir(openblas_dir):
-                    sys.stderr.write("Cannot open expected OpenBLAS directory " + openblas_dir + "\n")
+                    _print_error("Cannot open expected OpenBLAS directory " + openblas_dir + "\n")
                     sys.exit(1)
 
                 makefiles_to_glob = os.path.join(openblas_dir, "Makefile*")