diff --git a/core/scripts/run-tests.sh b/core/scripts/run-tests.sh
index 209d253434..966db3aad0 100644
--- a/core/scripts/run-tests.sh
+++ b/core/scripts/run-tests.sh
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
   $phpunit_version = Version::id();
 }
 if (version_compare(PHP_MAJOR_VERSION . '.' . PHP_MINOR_VERSION, '7.2') >= 0 && version_compare($phpunit_version, '6.1') < 0) {
-  echo "\nrun-tests.sh requires the PHPUnit testing framework version 6 or greater when running on PHP 7.2 or greater. Please use 'composer run-script drupal-phpunit-upgrade' to ensure that it is present.\n\n";
+  simpletest_script_print_error("PHPUnit testing framework version 6 or greater is required when running on PHP 7.2 or greater. Run the command 'composer run-script drupal-phpunit-upgrade' in order to fix this.");
   exit(SIMPLETEST_SCRIPT_EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
 
diff --git a/core/tests/bootstrap.php b/core/tests/bootstrap.php
index d376a06de3..429514179f 100644
--- a/core/tests/bootstrap.php
+++ b/core/tests/bootstrap.php
@@ -150,6 +150,19 @@ function drupal_phpunit_populate_class_loader() {
 // Do class loader population.
 drupal_phpunit_populate_class_loader();
 
+// Ensure we have the correct PHPUnit version for the version of PHP.
+if (class_exists('\PHPUnit_Runner_Version')) {
+  $phpunit_version = \PHPUnit_Runner_Version::id();
+}
+else {
+  $phpunit_version = Version::id();
+}
+if (version_compare(PHP_MAJOR_VERSION . '.' . PHP_MINOR_VERSION, '7.2') >= 0 && version_compare($phpunit_version, '6.1') < 0) {
+  $message = "PHPUnit testing framework version 6 or greater is required when running on PHP 7.2 or greater. Run the command 'composer run-script drupal-phpunit-upgrade' in order to fix this.";
+  echo "\033[31m" . $message . "\n\033[0m";
+  exit(1);
+}
+
 // Set sane locale settings, to ensure consistent string, dates, times and
 // numbers handling.
 // @see \Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel::bootEnvironment()
@@ -168,17 +181,6 @@ function drupal_phpunit_populate_class_loader() {
 // not turn runtime assertions on if they weren't on already.
 Handle::register();
 
-// Ensure we have the correct PHPUnit version for the version of PHP.
-if (class_exists('\PHPUnit_Runner_Version')) {
-  $phpunit_version = \PHPUnit_Runner_Version::id();
-}
-else {
-  $phpunit_version = Version::id();
-}
-if (version_compare(PHP_MAJOR_VERSION . '.' . PHP_MINOR_VERSION, '7.2') >= 0 && version_compare($phpunit_version, '6.1') < 0) {
-  echo "\nTesting Drupal requires the PHPUnit testing framework version 6 or greater when running on PHP 7.2 or greater. Please use 'composer run-script drupal-phpunit-upgrade' to ensure that it is present.\n\n";
-  exit(1);
-}
 // PHPUnit 4 to PHPUnit 6 bridge. Tests written for PHPUnit 4 need to work on
 // PHPUnit 6 with a minimum of fuss.
 if (version_compare($phpunit_version, '6.1', '>=')) {