diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/kernel/init.cc b/repos/base-hw/src/core/kernel/init.cc
index 07ce9465c..10a9d8e9a 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/core/kernel/init.cc
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/kernel/init.cc
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ extern "C" void init_kernel()
 
 	Core_thread::singleton();
 
-	Genode::printf("kernel initialized\n");
+	Genode::printf("\nkernel initialized\n");
 
 	test();
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/fiasco b/tool/run/boot_dir/fiasco
index 87bd541ca..dac7fe441 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/fiasco
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/fiasco
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ set fiasco_serial_esc_arg "-serial_esc "
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "L4 Bootstrapper"
+	return "\nL4 Bootstrapper"
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/foc b/tool/run/boot_dir/foc
index 14d009e75..0c70eada6 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/foc
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/foc
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ proc run_boot_dir_arm {binaries} {
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "L4 Bootstrapper"
+	return "\nL4 Bootstrapper"
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/hw b/tool/run/boot_dir/hw
index 92ea3321b..4def0bcc1 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/hw
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/hw
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ proc run_boot_dir_hook { } {
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "kernel initialized"
+	return "\nkernel initialized"
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/nova b/tool/run/boot_dir/nova
index 5be441699..fb39ce07f 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/nova
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/nova
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ proc nova_external { } {
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "NOVA Microhypervisor"
+	return "\n\r\fNOVA Microhypervisor"
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/okl4 b/tool/run/boot_dir/okl4
index 41d1063f2..71927a2b4 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/okl4
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/okl4
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ set weaver_xml_template {
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "OKL4 -"
+	return "\n\r\033\\\[1m\033\\\[33mOKL4 -"
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/pistachio b/tool/run/boot_dir/pistachio
index b91ab311f..50421a763 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/pistachio
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/pistachio
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ proc kernel_external { } {
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "L4Ka::Pistachio -"
+	return "\n\r\033\\\[1m\033\\\[33mL4Ka::Pistachio -"
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/sel4 b/tool/run/boot_dir/sel4
index 59c6d93f6..ca5209097 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/sel4
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/sel4
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ proc run_boot_dir_hook { } {
 
 
 proc run_boot_string { } {
-	return "Starting node #0"
+	return "\n\rStarting node #0"
 }