diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b084b5158..dc1e65506 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- Buildpack error messages are now more consistently formatted and use colour. ([#1639](https://github.com/heroku/heroku-buildpack-python/pull/1639))
 
 ## [v256] - 2024-09-07
 
diff --git a/bin/compile b/bin/compile
index c89420201..9bd6482b7 100755
--- a/bin/compile
+++ b/bin/compile
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ BUILDPACK_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")")" && pwd)
 
 source "${BUILDPACK_DIR}/bin/utils"
 source "${BUILDPACK_DIR}/lib/metadata.sh"
+source "${BUILDPACK_DIR}/lib/output.sh"
 
 compile_start_time=$(nowms)
 
@@ -137,32 +138,30 @@ fi
 # TODO: Move this into a new package manager handling implementation when adding Poetry support.
 # We intentionally don't mention `setup.py` here since it's being removed soon.
 if [[ ! -f requirements.txt && ! -f Pipfile && ! -f setup.py ]]; then
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "Error: Couldn't find any supported Python package manager files."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "A Python app on Heroku must have either a 'requirements.txt' or"
-	puts-warn "'Pipfile' package manager file in the root directory of its"
-	puts-warn "source code."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "Currently the root directory of your app contains:"
-	puts-warn
-	# TODO: Overhaul logging helpers so they can handle prefixing multi-line strings, and switch to them.
-	# shellcheck disable=SC2012 # Using `ls` instead of `find` is absolutely fine for this use case.
-	ls -1 --indicator-style=slash "${BUILD_DIR}" | sed 's/^/ !     /'
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "If your app already has a package manager file, check that it:"
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "1. Is in the top level directory (not a subdirectory)."
-	puts-warn "2. Has the correct spelling (the filenames are case-sensitive)."
-	puts-warn "3. Isn't listed in '.gitignore' or '.slugignore'."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "Otherwise, add a package manager file to your app. If your app has"
-	puts-warn "no dependencies, then create an empty 'requirements.txt' file."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "For help with using Python on Heroku, see:"
-	puts-warn "https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/getting-started-with-python"
-	puts-warn "https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support"
-	puts-warn
+	display_error <<-EOF
+		Error: Couldn't find any supported Python package manager files.
+
+		A Python app on Heroku must have either a 'requirements.txt' or
+		'Pipfile' package manager file in the root directory of its
+		source code.
+
+		Currently the root directory of your app contains:
+
+		$(ls -1 --indicator-style=slash "${BUILD_DIR}")
+
+		If your app already has a package manager file, check that it:
+
+		1. Is in the top level directory (not a subdirectory).
+		2. Has the correct spelling (the filenames are case-sensitive).
+		3. Isn't listed in '.gitignore' or '.slugignore'.
+
+		Otherwise, add a package manager file to your app. If your app has
+		no dependencies, then create an empty 'requirements.txt' file.
+
+		For help with using Python on Heroku, see:
+		https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/getting-started-with-python
+		https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support
+	EOF
 	meta_set "failure_reason" "package-manager-not-found"
 	exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/bin/detect b/bin/detect
index 498792bab..69345eb78 100755
--- a/bin/detect
+++ b/bin/detect
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# Usage: bin/compile <build-dir>
+# Usage: bin/detect <build-dir>
 # See: https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/buildpack-api
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
 BUILD_DIR="${1}"
 
+# The absolute path to the root of the buildpack.
+BUILDPACK_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")")" && pwd)
+
+source "${BUILDPACK_DIR}/lib/output.sh"
+
 # Filenames that if found in a project mean it should be treated as a Python project,
 # and so pass this buildpack's detection phase.
 #
@@ -36,14 +41,10 @@ for filename in "${KNOWN_PYTHON_PROJECT_FILES[@]}"; do
 	fi
 done
 
-# Cytokine incorrectly indents the first line, so we have to leave it empty.
-echo 1>&2
-
 # Note: This error message intentionally doesn't list all of the filetypes above,
 # since during compile the build will still require a package manager file, so it
-# makes sense to describe the stricter requirements up front.
-# TODO: Overhaul logging helpers so they can handle prefixing multi-line strings, and switch to them.
-sed 's/^/ !     /' 1>&2 <<EOF
+# makes sense to describe the stricter requirements upfront.
+display_error <<EOF
 Error: Your app is configured to use the Python buildpack,
 but we couldn't find any supported Python project files.
 
diff --git a/bin/steps/python b/bin/steps/python
index a481f9b06..3c1e36e57 100755
--- a/bin/steps/python
+++ b/bin/steps/python
@@ -9,18 +9,20 @@ PYTHON_VERSION="${PYTHON_VERSION%%+([[:space:]])}"
 function eol_python_version_error() {
 	local major_version="${1}"
 	local eol_date="${2}"
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "Python ${major_version} reached upstream end-of-life on ${eol_date}, and is"
-	puts-warn "therefore no longer receiving security updates:"
-	puts-warn "https://devguide.python.org/versions/#supported-versions"
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "As such, it is no longer supported by this buildpack."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "Please upgrade to a newer Python version."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "For a list of the supported Python versions, see:"
-	puts-warn "https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes"
-	puts-warn
+	display_error <<-EOF
+		Error: Python ${major_version} is no longer supported.
+
+		Python ${major_version} reached upstream end-of-life on ${eol_date}, and is
+		therefore no longer receiving security updates:
+		https://devguide.python.org/versions/#supported-versions
+
+		As such, it is no longer supported by this buildpack.
+
+		Please upgrade to a newer Python version.
+
+		For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
+		https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
+	EOF
 	meta_set "failure_reason" "python-version-eol"
 	exit 1
 }
@@ -44,12 +46,12 @@ ARCH=$(dpkg --print-architecture)
 PYTHON_URL="${S3_BASE_URL}/${PYTHON_VERSION}-ubuntu-${UBUNTU_VERSION}-${ARCH}.tar.zst"
 
 if ! curl --output /dev/null --silent --head --fail --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --connect-timeout 10 "${PYTHON_URL}"; then
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "Requested runtime '${PYTHON_VERSION}' is not available for this stack (${STACK})."
-	puts-warn
-	puts-warn "For a list of the supported Python versions, see:"
-	puts-warn "https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes"
-	puts-warn
+	display_error <<-EOF
+		Error: Requested runtime '${PYTHON_VERSION}' is not available for this stack (${STACK}).
+
+		For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
+		https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
+	EOF
 	meta_set "failure_reason" "python-version-not-found"
 	exit 1
 fi
@@ -153,7 +155,7 @@ else
 	if ! curl --silent --show-error --fail --retry 3 --retry-connrefused --connect-timeout 10 "${PYTHON_URL}" | tar --zstd --extract --directory .heroku/python; then
 		# The Python version was confirmed to exist previously, so any failure here is due to
 		# a networking issue or archive/buildpack bug rather than the runtime not existing.
-		puts-warn "Failed to download/install ${PYTHON_VERSION}"
+		display_error "Error: Failed to download/install ${PYTHON_VERSION}."
 		meta_set "failure_reason" "python-download"
 		exit 1
 	fi
@@ -186,7 +188,7 @@ BUNDLED_PIP_WHEEL_LIST=(.heroku/python/lib/python*/ensurepip/_bundled/pip-*.whl)
 BUNDLED_PIP_WHEEL="${BUNDLED_PIP_WHEEL_LIST[0]}"
 
 if [[ -z "${BUNDLED_PIP_WHEEL}" ]]; then
-	puts-warn "Failed to locate the bundled pip wheel"
+	display_error "Error: Failed to locate the bundled pip wheel."
 	meta_set "failure_reason" "bundled-pip-not-found"
 	exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/builds/test_python_runtime.sh b/builds/test_python_runtime.sh
index 8dfce8d91..4a21750d4 100755
--- a/builds/test_python_runtime.sh
+++ b/builds/test_python_runtime.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 ARCHIVE_FILEPATH="${1:?"Error: The filepath of the Python runtime archive must be specified as the first argument."}"
 
+function abort() {
+	echo "Error: ${1}" >&2
+	exit 1
+}
+
 # We intentionally extract the Python runtime into a different directory to the one into which it
 # was originally installed before being packaged, to check that relocation works (since buildpacks
 # depend on it). Since the Python binary was built in shared mode, `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` must be set
@@ -22,8 +27,7 @@ tar --zstd --extract --verbose --file "${ARCHIVE_FILEPATH}" --directory "${INSTA
 # Check that all dynamically linked libraries exist in the run image (since it has fewer packages than the build image).
 LDD_OUTPUT=$(find "${INSTALL_DIR}" -type f,l \( -name 'python3' -o -name '*.so*' \) -exec ldd '{}' +)
 if grep 'not found' <<<"${LDD_OUTPUT}" | sort --unique; then
-	echo "The above dynamically linked libraries were not found!"
-	exit 1
+	abort "The above dynamically linked libraries were not found!"
 fi
 
 # Check that optional and/or system library dependent stdlib modules were built.
@@ -46,6 +50,5 @@ if ! "${INSTALL_DIR}/bin/python3" -c "import $(
 	IFS=,
 	echo "${optional_stdlib_modules[*]}"
 )"; then
-	echo "The above optional stdlib module failed to import! Check the compile logs to see if it was skipped due to missing libraries/headers."
-	exit 1
+	abort "The above optional stdlib module failed to import! Check the compile logs to see if it was skipped due to missing libraries/headers."
 fi
diff --git a/lib/output.sh b/lib/output.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e063ddd88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/output.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+ANSI_RED='\033[1;31m'
+ANSI_RESET='\033[0m'
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC2120 # Prevent warnings about unused arguments due to the split args vs stdin API.
+function display_error() {
+	# Send all output to stderr
+	exec 1>&2
+	# If arguments are given, redirect them to stdin. This allows the function
+	# to be invoked with either a string argument or stdin (e.g. via <<-EOF).
+	(($#)) && exec <<<"${@}"
+	echo
+	while IFS= read -r line; do
+		echo -e "${ANSI_RED} !     ${line}${ANSI_RESET}"
+	done
+	echo
+}
diff --git a/spec/hatchet/detect_spec.rb b/spec/hatchet/detect_spec.rb
index ceb25581f..dbe7f1e93 100644
--- a/spec/hatchet/detect_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hatchet/detect_spec.rb
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/getting-started-with-python
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support
           remote: 
+          remote: 
           remote:        More info: https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/buildpacks#detection-failure
         OUTPUT
       end
diff --git a/spec/hatchet/package_manager_spec.rb b/spec/hatchet/package_manager_spec.rb
index d247e1deb..70473fc81 100644
--- a/spec/hatchet/package_manager_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hatchet/package_manager_spec.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
       app.deploy do |app|
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
           remote: -----> Python app detected
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Error: Couldn't find any supported Python package manager files.
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     A Python app on Heroku must have either a 'requirements.txt' or
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
           remote:  !     For help with using Python on Heroku, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/getting-started-with-python
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
diff --git a/spec/hatchet/pipenv_spec.rb b/spec/hatchet/pipenv_spec.rb
index 6c0e2fa97..ccd5dee93 100644
--- a/spec/hatchet/pipenv_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hatchet/pipenv_spec.rb
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@
       expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
         remote: -----> Python app detected
         remote: -----> Using Python version specified in Pipfile.lock
-        remote:  !     
-        remote:  !     Requested runtime 'python-#{requested_version}' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
+        remote: 
+        remote:  !     Error: Requested runtime 'python-#{requested_version}' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
         remote:  !     
         remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
         remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-        remote:  !     
+        remote: 
         remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
       OUTPUT
     end
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to match(Regexp.new(<<~OUTPUT))
           remote: -----> Python app detected
           remote: -----> Using Python version specified in Pipfile.lock
+          remote: 
+          remote:  !     Error: Python 3.6 is no longer supported.
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     Python 3.6 reached upstream end-of-life on December 23rd, 2021, and is
           remote:  !     therefore no longer receiving security updates:
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
@@ -151,6 +153,8 @@
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to match(Regexp.new(<<~OUTPUT))
           remote: -----> Python app detected
           remote: -----> Using Python version specified in Pipfile.lock
+          remote: 
+          remote:  !     Error: Python 3.7 is no longer supported.
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     Python 3.7 reached upstream end-of-life on June 27th, 2023, and is
           remote:  !     therefore no longer receiving security updates:
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
@@ -273,12 +277,12 @@
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
           remote: -----> Python app detected
           remote: -----> Using Python version specified in Pipfile.lock
-          remote:  !     
-          remote:  !     Requested runtime '^3.12' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
+          remote: 
+          remote:  !     Error: Requested runtime '^3.12' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
@@ -293,12 +297,12 @@
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
           remote: -----> Python app detected
           remote: -----> Using Python version specified in Pipfile.lock
-          remote:  !     
-          remote:  !     Requested runtime 'python-X.Y.Z' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
+          remote: 
+          remote:  !     Error: Requested runtime 'python-X.Y.Z' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
diff --git a/spec/hatchet/python_update_warning_spec.rb b/spec/hatchet/python_update_warning_spec.rb
index df909ee73..d6d43c2f6 100644
--- a/spec/hatchet/python_update_warning_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hatchet/python_update_warning_spec.rb
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@
       expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
         remote: -----> Python app detected
         remote: -----> Using Python version specified in runtime.txt
-        remote:  !     
-        remote:  !     Requested runtime 'python-#{requested_version}' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
+        remote: 
+        remote:  !     Error: Requested runtime 'python-#{requested_version}' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
         remote:  !     
         remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
         remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-        remote:  !     
+        remote: 
         remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
       OUTPUT
     end
diff --git a/spec/hatchet/python_version_spec.rb b/spec/hatchet/python_version_spec.rb
index a324089ba..f13c148ac 100644
--- a/spec/hatchet/python_version_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hatchet/python_version_spec.rb
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@
       expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
         remote: -----> Python app detected
         remote: -----> Using Python version specified in runtime.txt
-        remote:  !     
-        remote:  !     Requested runtime '#{requested_runtime}' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
+        remote: 
+        remote:  !     Error: Requested runtime '#{requested_runtime}' is not available for this stack (#{app.stack}).
         remote:  !     
         remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
         remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-        remote:  !     
+        remote: 
         remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
       OUTPUT
     end
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
           remote: -----> Python app detected
           remote: -----> Using Python version specified in runtime.txt
+          remote: 
+          remote:  !     Error: Python 3.6 is no longer supported.
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     Python 3.6 reached upstream end-of-life on December 23rd, 2021, and is
           remote:  !     therefore no longer receiving security updates:
@@ -102,7 +104,7 @@
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
@@ -117,6 +119,8 @@
         expect(clean_output(app.output)).to include(<<~OUTPUT)
           remote: -----> Python app detected
           remote: -----> Using Python version specified in runtime.txt
+          remote: 
+          remote:  !     Error: Python 3.7 is no longer supported.
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     Python 3.7 reached upstream end-of-life on June 27th, 2023, and is
           remote:  !     therefore no longer receiving security updates:
@@ -128,7 +132,7 @@
           remote:  !     
           remote:  !     For a list of the supported Python versions, see:
           remote:  !     https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/python-support#supported-runtimes
-          remote:  !     
+          remote: 
           remote:  !     Push rejected, failed to compile Python app.
         OUTPUT
       end
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 93e3b2bdb..5f761bf3b 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -51,9 +51,12 @@ def get_requirement_version(package_name)
 end
 
 def clean_output(output)
-  # Remove trailing whitespace characters added by Git:
-  # https://github.com/heroku/hatchet/issues/162
-  output.gsub(/ {8}(?=\R)/, '')
+  output
+    # Remove trailing whitespace characters added by Git:
+    # https://github.com/heroku/hatchet/issues/162
+    .gsub(/ {8}(?=\R)/, '')
+    # Remove ANSI colour codes used in buildpack output (e.g. error messages).
+    .gsub(/\e\[[0-9;]+m/, '')
 end
 
 def update_buildpacks(app, buildpacks)