diff --git a/.mypy.ini b/.mypy.ini
index 2d7c2ac8e53..0fdab43fa46 100644
--- a/.mypy.ini
+++ b/.mypy.ini
@@ -28,3 +28,7 @@ follow_imports = skip
 [mypy-esp_pylib.*]
 # esp-pylib ships py.typed; follow it so NoReturn on log.die() is visible for type narrowing
 follow_imports = normal
+
+[mypy-rich.markup.*]
+# rich.markup ships py.typed; follow it so escape() is visible for type narrowing
+follow_imports = normal
diff --git a/tools/export_utils/activate_venv.py b/tools/export_utils/activate_venv.py
index a8490729259..95b8b6427c3 100644
--- a/tools/export_utils/activate_venv.py
+++ b/tools/export_utils/activate_venv.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from console_output import status_message
 from esp_pylib.excepthook import install_exception_reporting
 from esp_pylib.logger import log
 from rich.markup import escape
+from rich.text import Text
 from shell_types import SHELL_CLASSES
 from shell_types import SUPPORTED_SHELLS
 from utils import conf
@@ -108,18 +109,18 @@ def detect_shell(args: Any) -> str:
 
 
 @status_message('Detecting outdated tools in system', rv_on_ok=True)
-def print_uninstall_msg() -> Any:
+def print_uninstall_msg() -> Text:
     stdout = run_cmd([sys.executable, conf.IDF_TOOLS_PY, 'uninstall', '--dry-run'])
     if stdout:
         python_cmd = 'python.exe' if sys.platform == 'win32' else 'python'
-        msg = (
-            f'Found tools that are not used by active ESP-IDF version.\n'
-            f'[bright_cyan]{stdout}\n'
-            f'To free up even more space, remove installation packages of those tools.\n'
-            f'Use option {python_cmd} {conf.IDF_TOOLS_PY} uninstall --remove-archives.'
+        msg = Text('Found tools that are not used by active ESP-IDF version.\n', style='green')
+        msg.append(
+            f'{stdout}\nTo free up even more space, remove installation packages of those tools.\n'
+            f'Use option {python_cmd} {conf.IDF_TOOLS_PY} uninstall --remove-archives.',
+            style='bright_cyan',
         )
     else:
-        msg = 'OK - no outdated tools found'
+        msg = Text('OK - no outdated tools found', style='green')
 
     return msg
 
diff --git a/tools/export_utils/console_output.py b/tools/export_utils/console_output.py
index dd9b2c6fd76..77af6c357ef 100644
--- a/tools/export_utils/console_output.py
+++ b/tools/export_utils/console_output.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from typing import Any
 from typing import cast
 
 from rich.markup import escape
+from rich.text import Text
 from utils import conf
 
 try:
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ def configure_output(*, no_color: bool = False, quiet: bool = False, debug: bool
 def status_message(msg: str, msg_result: str = '', rv_on_ok: bool = False, die_on_err: bool = True) -> Callable:
     def inner(func: Callable) -> Callable:
         def wrapper(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
-            log.print(f'[dark_orange]*[/dark_orange] {escape(msg)} ... ', file=sys.stderr, end='')
+            log.print(f'[dark_orange]*[/dark_orange] {msg} ... ', file=sys.stderr, end='')
 
             try:
                 rv = func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -49,9 +50,10 @@ def status_message(msg: str, msg_result: str = '', rv_on_ok: bool = False, die_o
                 log.die(escape(str(e)))
 
             if rv_on_ok:
-                log.print(f'[green]{escape(str(rv))}[/green]', file=sys.stderr)
+                result = rv if isinstance(rv, Text) else Text(str(rv), style='green')
+                log.print(result, file=sys.stderr)
             elif msg_result:
-                log.print(f'[green]{escape(msg_result)}[/green]', file=sys.stderr)
+                log.print(f'[green]{msg_result}[/green]', file=sys.stderr)
             else:
                 log.print('[green]OK[/green]', file=sys.stderr)