diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 6320d6c71365eca31d224fbc1000c4d0476d6754..0f134a318a268c66809cabe9d8c369359f4d4dc5 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ CVS code -
 	  regex strings constantly,  and to actually compile them on an
 	  as-needed basis.  Also, make a color syntax specified on the
 	  command line override the syntax associated with the current
-	  file extension, and add a "default" syntax that takes no
+	  file extension, add a "default" syntax that takes no
 	  extensions for those files that don't match any other
-	  syntax's extensions.  Changes to update_color(),
+	  syntax's extensions, and add a "none" syntax that's the same
+	  as having no syntax at all.  Changes to update_color(),
 	  thanks_for_all_the_fish(), nregcomp(), parse_syntax(), and
 	  parse_colors(). (Brand Huntsman and DLR)
 	- Various other color fixes.  Handle unspecified foreground
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.sample b/doc/nanorc.sample
index 4226275bed1128c1094b6d5a01101b8e256e382f..61396b3171c5d0003a95dbe952f804c69979fc63 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.sample
+++ b/doc/nanorc.sample
@@ -147,9 +147,10 @@
 ##
 ## syntax "short description" ["filename regex" ...]
 ##
-## (The syntax "default" is reserved: it takes no filename regexes, and
-## applies to files that don't match any other syntax's filename
-## regexes.)
+## (The "none" syntax is reserved; specifying it on the command line is
+## the same as not having a syntax at all.  The "default" syntax is
+## special: it takes no filename regexes, and applies to files that
+## don't match any other syntax's filename regexes.)
 ##
 ## color foreground,background "regex" ["regex"...]
 ## or
diff --git a/src/color.c b/src/color.c
index 24482f80c4ce592d0ac771348142df670b1f6264..1ef7b6eacdccfdf5eb0ceb5a5ba51a849409ffa4 100644
--- a/src/color.c
+++ b/src/color.c
@@ -117,6 +117,11 @@ void color_update(void)
 
     /* If we specified a syntax override string, use it. */
     if (syntaxstr != NULL) {
+	/* If the syntax override is "none", it's the same as not having
+	 * a syntax at all, so get out. */
+	if (strcmp(syntaxstr, "none") == 0)
+	    return;
+
 	for (tmpsyntax = syntaxes; tmpsyntax != NULL;
 		tmpsyntax = tmpsyntax->next) {
 	    if (strcmp(tmpsyntax->desc, syntaxstr) == 0)
diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index c628efca5ca1288f20bba3644ecc1be0e34afb1b..9747ceef2df2307b7deec1456942310db9ecf2fe 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -322,9 +322,17 @@ void parse_syntax(char *ptr)
     fprintf(stderr, "Starting a new syntax type: \"%s\"\n", nameptr);
 #endif
 
+    /* The "none" syntax is the same as not having a syntax at all, so
+     * we can't assign any extensions or colors to it. */
+    if (strcmp(endsyntax->desc, "none") == 0) {
+	rcfile_error(N_("The \"none\" syntax is reserved"));
+	return;
+    }
+
     /* The default syntax should have no associated extensions. */
     if (strcmp(endsyntax->desc, "default") == 0 && *ptr != '\0') {
-	rcfile_error(N_("The default syntax must take no extensions"));
+	rcfile_error(
+		N_("The \"default\" syntax must take no extensions"));
 	return;
     }