diff --git a/mercurial/debugcommands.py b/mercurial/debugcommands.py
--- a/mercurial/debugcommands.py
+++ b/mercurial/debugcommands.py
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@
         'hg debugcolor')
 def debugcolor(ui, repo, **opts):
     """show available color, effects or style"""
-    ui.write(('color mode: %s\n') % ui._colormode)
+    ui.write(('color mode: %s\n') % stringutil.pprint(ui._colormode))
     if opts.get(r'style'):
         return _debugdisplaystyle(ui)
     else:
diff --git a/tests/test-debugcommands.t b/tests/test-debugcommands.t
--- a/tests/test-debugcommands.t
+++ b/tests/test-debugcommands.t
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
 
 #if no-windows
   $ hg debugcolor --style --color always | egrep 'mode|style|log\.'
-  color mode: ansi
+  color mode: 'ansi'
   available style:
   \x1b[0;33mlog.changeset\x1b[0m:                      \x1b[0;33myellow\x1b[0m (esc)
 #endif