diff --git a/hgext/color.py b/hgext/color.py
--- a/hgext/color.py
+++ b/hgext/color.py
@@ -187,10 +187,11 @@ testedwith = 'ships-with-hg-core'
 
 def extsetup(ui):
     # change default color config
+    color._enabledbydefault = True
     for idx, entry in enumerate(commands.globalopts):
         if entry[1] == 'color':
-            patch = ('auto', entry[3].replace(' (EXPERIMENTAL)', ''))
-            new = entry[:2] + patch + entry[4:]
+            patch = (entry[3].replace(' (EXPERIMENTAL)', ''),)
+            new = entry[:3] + patch + entry[4:]
             commands.globalopts[idx] = new
             break
 
diff --git a/mercurial/color.py b/mercurial/color.py
--- a/mercurial/color.py
+++ b/mercurial/color.py
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ except ImportError:
     curses = None
     _terminfo_params = {}
 
+# allow the extensions to change the default
+_enabledbydefault = False
+
 # start and stop parameters for effects
 _effects = {
     'none': 0,
@@ -167,25 +170,29 @@ def _terminfosetup(ui, mode):
               "ECMA-48 color\n"))
         _terminfo_params.clear()
 
-def setup(ui, coloropts):
+def setup(ui):
     """configure color on a ui
 
-    The 'coloropts' argument is the value of the '--color' command line
-    argument. That function both set the colormode for the ui object and read
+    That function both set the colormode for the ui object and read
     the configuration looking for custom colors and effect definitions."""
-    mode = _modesetup(ui, coloropts)
+    mode = _modesetup(ui)
     ui._colormode = mode
     if mode and mode != 'debug':
         configstyles(ui)
 
-def _modesetup(ui, coloropt):
+def _modesetup(ui):
     if ui.plain():
         return None
-    if coloropt == 'debug':
+    default = 'never'
+    if _enabledbydefault:
+        default = 'auto'
+    # experimental config: ui.color
+    config = ui.config('ui', 'color', default)
+    if config == 'debug':
         return 'debug'
 
-    auto = (coloropt == 'auto')
-    always = not auto and util.parsebool(coloropt)
+    auto = (config == 'auto')
+    always = not auto and util.parsebool(config)
     if not always and not auto:
         return None
 
diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ globalopts = [
      _('do not prompt, automatically pick the first choice for all prompts')),
     ('q', 'quiet', None, _('suppress output')),
     ('v', 'verbose', None, _('enable additional output')),
-    ('', 'color', 'never',
+    ('', 'color', '',
      # i18n: 'always', 'auto', 'never', and 'debug' are keywords
      # and should not be translated
      _("when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or debug)"
diff --git a/mercurial/dispatch.py b/mercurial/dispatch.py
--- a/mercurial/dispatch.py
+++ b/mercurial/dispatch.py
@@ -765,8 +765,11 @@ def _dispatch(req):
                 ui_.insecureconnections = True
 
         # setup color handling
+        coloropt = options['color']
         for ui_ in uis:
-            color.setup(ui_, options['color'])
+            if coloropt:
+                ui_.setconfig('ui', 'color', coloropt, '--color')
+            color.setup(ui_)
 
         if options['version']:
             return commands.version_(ui)
diff --git a/tests/test-diff-color.t b/tests/test-diff-color.t
--- a/tests/test-diff-color.t
+++ b/tests/test-diff-color.t
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 Setup
 
   $ cat <<EOF >> $HGRCPATH
+  > [ui]
+  > color = always
   > [color]
   > mode = ansi
-  > [extensions]
-  > color =
   > EOF
   $ hg init repo
   $ cd repo
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Setup
 
 default context
 
-  $ hg diff --nodates --color=always
+  $ hg diff --nodates
   \x1b[0;1mdiff -r cf9f4ba66af2 a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1m--- a/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1m+++ b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ default context
 
 --unified=2
 
-  $ hg diff --nodates -U 2  --color=always
+  $ hg diff --nodates -U 2
   \x1b[0;1mdiff -r cf9f4ba66af2 a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1m--- a/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1m+++ b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -65,10 +65,11 @@ default context
 
 diffstat
 
-  $ hg diff --stat --color=always
+  $ hg diff --stat
    a |  2 \x1b[0;32m+\x1b[0m\x1b[0;31m-\x1b[0m (esc)
    1 files changed, 1 insertions(+), 1 deletions(-)
   $ cat <<EOF >> $HGRCPATH
+  > [extensions]
   > record =
   > [ui]
   > interactive = true
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ diffstat
 record
 
   $ chmod +x a
-  $ hg record --color=always -m moda a <<EOF
+  $ hg record -m moda a <<EOF
   > y
   > y
   > EOF
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ record
 
 qrecord
 
-  $ hg qrecord --color=always -m moda patch <<EOF
+  $ hg qrecord -m moda patch <<EOF
   > y
   > y
   > EOF
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ issue3712: test colorization of subrepo 
   $ echo aa >> a
   $ echo bb >> sub/b
 
-  $ hg diff --color=always -S
+  $ hg diff -S
   \x1b[0;1mdiff --git a/a b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1m--- a/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1m+++ b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ test tabs
   > mid	tab
   > 	all		tabs	
   > EOF
-  $ hg diff --nodates --color=always
+  $ hg diff --nodates
   \x1b[0;1mdiff --git a/a b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1m--- a/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1m+++ b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ test tabs
   \x1b[0;32m+\x1b[0m	\x1b[0;32mall\x1b[0m		\x1b[0;32mtabs\x1b[0m\x1b[0;1;41m	\x1b[0m (esc)
   $ echo "[color]" >> $HGRCPATH
   $ echo "diff.tab = bold magenta" >> $HGRCPATH
-  $ hg diff --nodates --color=always
+  $ hg diff --nodates
   \x1b[0;1mdiff --git a/a b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1m--- a/a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1m+++ b/a\x1b[0m (esc)
diff --git a/tests/test-extension.t b/tests/test-extension.t
--- a/tests/test-extension.t
+++ b/tests/test-extension.t
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ hide outer repo
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ hide outer repo
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ extension help itself
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ Make sure that single '-v' option shows 
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ help options '-v' and '-v -e' should be 
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ help options '-v' and '-v -e' should be 
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
diff --git a/tests/test-help.t b/tests/test-help.t
--- a/tests/test-help.t
+++ b/tests/test-help.t
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ Test short command list with verbose opt
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ Verbose help for add
    -q --quiet             suppress output
    -v --verbose           enable additional output
       --color TYPE        when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or
-                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)
+                          debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)
       --config CONFIG [+] set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')
       --debug             enable debugging output
       --debugger          start debugger
@@ -2521,7 +2521,7 @@ Dish up an empty repo; serve it cold.
   <td>enable additional output</td></tr>
   <tr><td></td>
   <td>--color TYPE</td>
-  <td>when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)</td></tr>
+  <td>when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)</td></tr>
   <tr><td></td>
   <td>--config CONFIG [+]</td>
   <td>set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')</td></tr>
@@ -2722,7 +2722,7 @@ Dish up an empty repo; serve it cold.
   <td>enable additional output</td></tr>
   <tr><td></td>
   <td>--color TYPE</td>
-  <td>when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or debug) (EXPERIMENTAL) (default: never)</td></tr>
+  <td>when to colorize (boolean, always, auto, never, or debug) (EXPERIMENTAL)</td></tr>
   <tr><td></td>
   <td>--config CONFIG [+]</td>
   <td>set/override config option (use 'section.name=value')</td></tr>
diff --git a/tests/test-status-color.t b/tests/test-status-color.t
--- a/tests/test-status-color.t
+++ b/tests/test-status-color.t
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
   $ cat <<EOF >> $HGRCPATH
-  > [extensions]
-  > color =
+  > [ui]
+  > color = always
   > [color]
   > mode = ansi
   > EOF
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Terminfo codes compatibility fix
 
 hg status in repo root:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always
+  $ hg status
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ hg status with template
 
 hg status . in repo root:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always .
+  $ hg status .
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -49,17 +49,17 @@ hg status . in repo root:
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_root\x1b[0m (esc)
 
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd a
+  $ hg status --cwd a
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_root\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd a .
+  $ hg status --cwd a .
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_a\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd a ..
+  $ hg status --cwd a ..
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../b/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -67,18 +67,18 @@ hg status . in repo root:
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../b/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../in_root\x1b[0m (esc)
 
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b
+  $ hg status --cwd b
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_root\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b .
+  $ hg status --cwd b .
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_b\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b ..
+  $ hg status --cwd b ..
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../a/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../a/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -86,43 +86,43 @@ hg status . in repo root:
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../in_root\x1b[0m (esc)
 
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd a/1
+  $ hg status --cwd a/1
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_root\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd a/1 .
+  $ hg status --cwd a/1 .
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd a/1 ..
+  $ hg status --cwd a/1 ..
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
 
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b/1
+  $ hg status --cwd b/1
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_root\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b/1 .
+  $ hg status --cwd b/1 .
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b/1 ..
+  $ hg status --cwd b/1 ..
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
 
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b/2
+  $ hg status --cwd b/2
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/1/in_a_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4ma/in_a\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/2/in_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4mb/in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_root\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b/2 .
+  $ hg status --cwd b/2 .
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
-  $ hg status --color=always --cwd b/2 ..
+  $ hg status --cwd b/2 ..
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../1/in_b_1\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4min_b_2\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;35;1;4m? \x1b[0m\x1b[0;35;1;4m../in_b\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ Make sure --color=never works
   ? in_root
 
 Make sure ui.formatted=False works
-  $ hg status --config ui.formatted=False
+  $ hg status --color=auto --config ui.formatted=False
   ? a/1/in_a_1
   ? a/in_a
   ? b/1/in_b_1
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ templates should be.
 
 hg status:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always
+  $ hg status
   \x1b[0;32;1mA \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1madded\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1mR \x1b[0m\x1b[0;31;1mremoved\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;36;1;4m! \x1b[0m\x1b[0;36;1;4mdeleted\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ hg status:
 
 hg status modified added removed deleted unknown never-existed ignored:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always modified added removed deleted unknown never-existed ignored
+  $ hg status modified added removed deleted unknown never-existed ignored
   never-existed: * (glob)
   \x1b[0;32;1mA \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1madded\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;31;1mR \x1b[0m\x1b[0;31;1mremoved\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ hg status modified added removed deleted
 
 hg status -C:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always -C
+  $ hg status -C
   \x1b[0;32;1mA \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1madded\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1mA \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1mcopied\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;0m  modified\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ hg status -C:
 
 hg status -A:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always -A
+  $ hg status -A
   \x1b[0;32;1mA \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1madded\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1mA \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1mcopied\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;0m  modified\x1b[0m (esc)
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ hg status -A (with terminfo color):
 
   $ mkdir "$TESTTMP/terminfo"
   $ TERMINFO="$TESTTMP/terminfo" tic "$TESTDIR/hgterm.ti"
-  $ TERM=hgterm TERMINFO="$TESTTMP/terminfo" hg status --config color.mode=terminfo --color=always -A
+  $ TERM=hgterm TERMINFO="$TESTTMP/terminfo" hg status --config color.mode=terminfo -A
   \x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[1mA \x1b[30m\x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[1madded\x1b[30m (esc)
   \x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[1mA \x1b[30m\x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[1mcopied\x1b[30m (esc)
   \x1b[30m\x1b[30m  modified\x1b[30m (esc)
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ The user can define effects with raw ter
   > # We can override what's in the terminfo database, too
   > terminfo.bold = \E[2m
   > EOF
-  $ TERM=hgterm TERMINFO="$TESTTMP/terminfo" hg status --config color.mode=terminfo --config color.status.clean=dim --color=always -A
+  $ TERM=hgterm TERMINFO="$TESTTMP/terminfo" hg status --config color.mode=terminfo --config color.status.clean=dim -A
   \x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[2mA \x1b[30m\x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[2madded\x1b[30m (esc)
   \x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[2mA \x1b[30m\x1b[30m\x1b[32m\x1b[2mcopied\x1b[30m (esc)
   \x1b[30m\x1b[30m  modified\x1b[30m (esc)
@@ -265,11 +265,11 @@ The user can define effects with raw ter
 
 hg status ignoreddir/file:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always ignoreddir/file
+  $ hg status ignoreddir/file
 
 hg status -i ignoreddir/file:
 
-  $ hg status --color=always -i ignoreddir/file
+  $ hg status -i ignoreddir/file
   \x1b[0;30;1mI \x1b[0m\x1b[0;30;1mignoreddir/file\x1b[0m (esc)
   $ cd ..
 
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ check 'status -q' and some combinations
 
 test unknown color
 
-  $ hg --config color.status.modified=periwinkle status --color=always
+  $ hg --config color.status.modified=periwinkle status
   ignoring unknown color/effect 'periwinkle' (configured in color.status.modified)
   ignoring unknown color/effect 'periwinkle' (configured in color.status.modified)
   M modified
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ Check if result is the same or different
 If result is not as expected, raise error
 
   $ assert() {
-  >     hg status --color=always $1 > ../a
-  >     hg status --color=always $2 > ../b
+  >     hg status $1 > ../a
+  >     hg status $2 > ../b
   >     if diff ../a ../b > /dev/null; then
   >         out=0
   >     else
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ test 'resolve -l'
 
 hg resolve with one unresolved, one resolved:
 
-  $ hg resolve --color=always -l
+  $ hg resolve -l
   \x1b[0;31;1mU \x1b[0m\x1b[0;31;1ma\x1b[0m (esc)
   \x1b[0;32;1mR \x1b[0m\x1b[0;32;1mb\x1b[0m (esc)