diff --git a/hgext/color.py b/hgext/color.py
--- a/hgext/color.py
+++ b/hgext/color.py
@@ -261,6 +261,15 @@ def _setupcmd(ui, cmd, table, func, effe
     ])
 
     for status in effectsmap:
-        effects = ui.configlist('color', cmd + '.' + status)
+        configkey = cmd + '.' + status
+        effects = ui.configlist('color', configkey)
         if effects:
-            effectsmap[status] = effects
+            good = []
+            for e in effects:
+                if e in _effect_params:
+                    good.append(e)
+                else:
+                    ui.warn(_("ignoring unknown color/effect %r "
+                              "(configured in color.%s)\n")
+                            % (e, configkey))
+            effectsmap[status] = good
diff --git a/tests/test-status-color b/tests/test-status-color
--- a/tests/test-status-color
+++ b/tests/test-status-color
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ hg remove removed
 rm deleted
 hg copy modified copied
 
+echo "% test unknown color"
+hg --config color.status.modified=periwinkle status --color=always
+
 # Run status with 2 different flags.
 # Check if result is the same or different.
 # If result is not as expected, raise error
diff --git a/tests/test-status-color.out b/tests/test-status-color.out
--- a/tests/test-status-color.out
+++ b/tests/test-status-color.out
@@ -124,3 +124,11 @@ adding .hgignore
 adding deleted
 adding modified
 adding removed
+% test unknown color
+ignoring unknown color/effect 'periwinkle' (configured in color.status.modified)
+M modified
+A added
+A copied
+R removed
+! deleted
+? unknown