diff --git a/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs b/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs
index 8c8033744..88f26e604 100644
--- a/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs
+++ b/src/uu/ls/src/ls.rs
@@ -1528,13 +1528,8 @@ fn display_file_name(
     if config.format == Format::Long && metadata.file_type().is_symlink() {
         if let Ok(target) = path.read_link() {
             // We don't bother updating width here because it's not used for long
-            let mut target_name = target.to_string_lossy().to_string();
-            if let Some(ls_colors) = &config.color {
-                target_name = color_name(&ls_colors, &target, target_name, metadata);
-            }
             name.push_str(" -> ");
-
-            name.push_str(&target_name);
+            name.push_str(&target.to_string_lossy());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs b/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs
index 5538864ca..f74443877 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_ls.rs
@@ -639,14 +639,18 @@ fn test_ls_color() {
     at.touch(&nested_file);
     at.touch("test-color");
 
+    at.symlink_file(&nested_file, "link");
+
     let a_with_colors = "\x1b[1;34ma\x1b[0m";
     let z_with_colors = "\x1b[1;34mz\x1b[0m";
     let nested_dir_with_colors = "\x1b[1;34mnested_dir\x1b[0m";
+    let link_with_color = "\x1b[1;36mlink\x1b[0m";
 
     // Color is disabled by default
     let result = scene.ucmd().succeeds();
     assert!(!result.stdout_str().contains(a_with_colors));
     assert!(!result.stdout_str().contains(z_with_colors));
+    assert!(!result.stdout_str().contains(link_with_color));
 
     // Color should be enabled
     scene
@@ -654,7 +658,8 @@ fn test_ls_color() {
         .arg("--color")
         .succeeds()
         .stdout_contains(a_with_colors)
-        .stdout_contains(z_with_colors);
+        .stdout_contains(z_with_colors)
+        .stdout_contains(link_with_color);
 
     // Color should be enabled
     scene
@@ -662,12 +667,14 @@ fn test_ls_color() {
         .arg("--color=always")
         .succeeds()
         .stdout_contains(a_with_colors)
-        .stdout_contains(z_with_colors);
+        .stdout_contains(z_with_colors)
+        .stdout_contains(link_with_color);
 
     // Color should be disabled
     let result = scene.ucmd().arg("--color=never").succeeds();
     assert!(!result.stdout_str().contains(a_with_colors));
     assert!(!result.stdout_str().contains(z_with_colors));
+    assert!(!result.stdout_str().contains(link_with_color));
 
     // Nested dir should be shown and colored
     scene