diff --git a/src/common/option.c b/src/common/option.c
index a7453cd51..d2f2cd78d 100644
--- a/src/common/option.c
+++ b/src/common/option.c
@@ -206,6 +206,11 @@ void ffOptionParseColorNoClear(const char* value, FFstrbuf* buffer)
             else FF_APPEND_COLOR_PROP_COND(title, colorTitle)
             else FF_APPEND_COLOR_PROP_COND(output, colorOutput)
             else FF_APPEND_COLOR_PROP_COND(separator, colorSeparator)
+            else
+            {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Error: invalid color code found: %s\n", value);
+                exit(479);
+            }
         }
         ffStrbufAppendC(buffer, *value);
         ++value;