diff --git a/color.c b/color.c
index 809b359a42..9027352ad7 100644
--- a/color.c
+++ b/color.c
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ static int parse_color(struct color *out, const char *name, int len)
 		} else if (val < 8) {
 			out->type = COLOR_ANSI;
 			out->value = val;
+			return 0;
 		} else if (val < 256) {
 			out->type = COLOR_256;
 			out->value = val;
diff --git a/t/t4026-color.sh b/t/t4026-color.sh
index 267c43bd95..4d20feacfe 100755
--- a/t/t4026-color.sh
+++ b/t/t4026-color.sh
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ test_expect_success 'absurdly long color specification' '
 	  "[1;2;4;5;7;22;24;25;27;38;2;255;255;255;48;2;255;255;255m"
 '
 
+test_expect_success '0-7 are aliases for basic ANSI color names' '
+	color "0 7" "[30;47m"
+'
+
 test_expect_success '256 colors' '
 	color "254 bold 255" "[1;38;5;254;48;5;255m"
 '