diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mercurial/hgrc b/hosts/common/programs/mercurial/hgrc
index f67157a32..1e96b5461 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/mercurial/hgrc
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mercurial/hgrc
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ git = True
 
 [alias]
 noop = !$HG > /dev/null
-q = qseries -s -v
+# --color never because it'll use black-on-black ...
+q = qseries -s -v --color never
 #
 # `hg qpath`: print the path to the current queue
 qpath = !$HG noop ; echo ".hg/patches-$($HG qqueue --active)" | sed 's:hg/patches-patches:hg/patches:'