diff --git a/mercurial/ui.py b/mercurial/ui.py
--- a/mercurial/ui.py
+++ b/mercurial/ui.py
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ class ui(object):
             return default
         try:
             return convert(v)
-        except ValueError:
+        except (ValueError, error.ParseError):
             if desc is None:
                 desc = convert.__name__
             raise error.ConfigError(_("%s.%s is not a valid %s ('%s')")
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ class ui(object):
         (0, 0)
         """
         if self.config(section, name, default, untrusted):
-            return self.configwith(util.rawparsedate, section, name, default,
+            return self.configwith(util.parsedate, section, name, default,
                                    'date', untrusted)
         return default
 
diff --git a/mercurial/util.py b/mercurial/util.py
--- a/mercurial/util.py
+++ b/mercurial/util.py
@@ -1924,9 +1924,6 @@ def parsedate(date, formats=None, bias=N
     The date may be a "unixtime offset" string or in one of the specified
     formats. If the date already is a (unixtime, offset) tuple, it is returned.
 
-    This function calls rawparsedate and convert ValueError to Abort for
-    functions that needs higher level exception.
-
     >>> parsedate(' today ') == parsedate(\
                                   datetime.date.today().strftime('%b %d'))
     True
@@ -1941,20 +1938,6 @@ def parsedate(date, formats=None, bias=N
     >>> tz == strtz
     True
     """
-    try:
-        return rawparsedate(date, formats=formats, bias=bias)
-    except ValueError as exception:
-        raise Abort(str(exception))
-
-def rawparsedate(date, formats=None, bias=None):
-    """parse a localized date/time and return a (unixtime, offset) tuple.
-
-    The date may be a "unixtime offset" string or in one of the specified
-    formats. If the date already is a (unixtime, offset) tuple, it is returned.
-
-    See docstring of parsedate for example.
-    Raise ValueError for invalid date value.
-    """
     if bias is None:
         bias = {}
     if not date:
@@ -2001,15 +1984,15 @@ def rawparsedate(date, formats=None, bia
             else:
                 break
         else:
-            raise ValueError(_('invalid date: %r') % date)
+            raise error.ParseError(_('invalid date: %r') % date)
     # validate explicit (probably user-specified) date and
     # time zone offset. values must fit in signed 32 bits for
     # current 32-bit linux runtimes. timezones go from UTC-12
     # to UTC+14
     if when < -0x80000000 or when > 0x7fffffff:
-        raise ValueError(_('date exceeds 32 bits: %d') % when)
+        raise error.ParseError(_('date exceeds 32 bits: %d') % when)
     if offset < -50400 or offset > 43200:
-        raise ValueError(_('impossible time zone offset: %d') % offset)
+        raise error.ParseError(_('impossible time zone offset: %d') % offset)
     return when, offset
 
 def matchdate(date):
diff --git a/tests/test-commit.t b/tests/test-commit.t
--- a/tests/test-commit.t
+++ b/tests/test-commit.t
@@ -15,20 +15,20 @@ commit date test
   $ hg commit -d '0 0' -m commit-1
   $ echo foo >> foo
   $ hg commit -d '1 4444444' -m commit-3
-  abort: impossible time zone offset: 4444444
+  hg: parse error: impossible time zone offset: 4444444
   [255]
   $ hg commit -d '1	15.1' -m commit-4
-  abort: invalid date: '1\t15.1'
+  hg: parse error: invalid date: '1\t15.1'
   [255]
   $ hg commit -d 'foo bar' -m commit-5
-  abort: invalid date: 'foo bar'
+  hg: parse error: invalid date: 'foo bar'
   [255]
   $ hg commit -d ' 1 4444' -m commit-6
   $ hg commit -d '111111111111 0' -m commit-7
-  abort: date exceeds 32 bits: 111111111111
+  hg: parse error: date exceeds 32 bits: 111111111111
   [255]
   $ hg commit -d '-111111111111 0' -m commit-7
-  abort: date exceeds 32 bits: -111111111111
+  hg: parse error: date exceeds 32 bits: -111111111111
   [255]
   $ echo foo >> foo
   $ hg commit -d '1901-12-13 20:45:52 +0000' -m commit-7-2
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ commit date test
   3 1901-12-13 20:45:52 +0000
   2 1901-12-13 20:45:52 +0000
   $ hg commit -d '1901-12-13 20:45:51 +0000' -m commit-7
-  abort: date exceeds 32 bits: -2147483649
+  hg: parse error: date exceeds 32 bits: -2147483649
   [255]
   $ hg commit -d '-2147483649 0' -m commit-7
-  abort: date exceeds 32 bits: -2147483649
+  hg: parse error: date exceeds 32 bits: -2147483649
   [255]
 
 commit added file that has been deleted
diff --git a/tests/test-glog.t b/tests/test-glog.t
--- a/tests/test-glog.t
+++ b/tests/test-glog.t
@@ -1513,7 +1513,7 @@ glog always reorders nodes which explain
       ('symbol', 'date')
       ('string', '2 0 to 4 0')))
   $ hg log -G -d 'brace ) in a date'
-  abort: invalid date: 'brace ) in a date'
+  hg: parse error: invalid date: 'brace ) in a date'
   [255]
   $ testlog --prune 31 --prune 32
   []
diff --git a/tests/test-parse-date.t b/tests/test-parse-date.t
--- a/tests/test-parse-date.t
+++ b/tests/test-parse-date.t
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ This runs with TZ="GMT"
   $ hg ci -d "1150000000 14400" -m "rev 4 (merge)"
   $ echo "fail" >> a
   $ hg ci -d "should fail" -m "fail"
-  abort: invalid date: 'should fail'
+  hg: parse error: invalid date: 'should fail'
   [255]
   $ hg ci -d "100000000000000000 1400" -m "fail"
-  abort: date exceeds 32 bits: 100000000000000000
+  hg: parse error: date exceeds 32 bits: 100000000000000000
   [255]
   $ hg ci -d "100000 1400000" -m "fail"
-  abort: impossible time zone offset: 1400000
+  hg: parse error: impossible time zone offset: 1400000
   [255]
 
 Check with local timezone other than GMT and with DST
diff --git a/tests/test-revset.t b/tests/test-revset.t
--- a/tests/test-revset.t
+++ b/tests/test-revset.t
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ quoting needed
   hg: parse error: invalid \x escape
   [255]
   $ log 'date(tip)'
-  abort: invalid date: 'tip'
+  hg: parse error: invalid date: 'tip'
   [255]
   $ log '0:date'
   abort: unknown revision 'date'!