diff --git a/hgext/largefiles/lfcommands.py b/hgext/largefiles/lfcommands.py
--- a/hgext/largefiles/lfcommands.py
+++ b/hgext/largefiles/lfcommands.py
@@ -71,9 +71,7 @@ def lfconvert(ui, src, dest, *pats, **op
             lfiles = set()
             normalfiles = set()
             if not pats:
-                pats = ui.config(lfutil.longname, 'patterns', default=())
-                if pats:
-                    pats = pats.split(' ')
+                pats = ui.configlist(lfutil.longname, 'patterns', default=[])
             if pats:
                 matcher = match_.match(rsrc.root, '', list(pats))
             else:
diff --git a/tests/test-lfconvert.t b/tests/test-lfconvert.t
--- a/tests/test-lfconvert.t
+++ b/tests/test-lfconvert.t
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
   > graphlog =
   > [largefiles]
   > minsize = 0.5
-  > patterns = **.dat
+  > patterns = **.other
+  >     **.dat
   > EOF
 
 "lfconvert" works