diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 01aa3aec1..28869b84c 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ Bugs
    that lack description or entry date (thanks to Nicholas Rabenau).
  + Fixed bug #1017, which exported invalid JSON when there were no tasks (thanks
    to Nicholas Rabenau).
+ + Fixed bug #1022, where dependencies were note released when a blocking task
+   was completed (thanks to Arkady Grudzinsky).
  + Fixed bug #1023, which applied default.project and default.priority during
    modification (thanks to Christoph Lange).
 
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index bda4f3796..3cc18de5f 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-New Features in taskwarrior 2.0.1
+New Features in taskwarrior 2.1.0
 
   - The new 'project.indented' format is available and used in the 'projects'
     and 'summary' commands.
@@ -12,18 +12,19 @@ New Features in taskwarrior 2.0.1
   Please refer to the ChangeLog file for full details.  There are too many to
   list here.
 
-New commands in taskwarrior 2.0.1
+New commands in taskwarrior 2.1.0
 
   - New 'ready' report that lists tasks ready for work, sorted by urgency.
   - New 'udas' command shows UDA details and warnings.
   - New '_udas' helper command lists UDA names for completion purposes.
 
-New configuration options in taskwarrior 2.0.1
+New configuration options in taskwarrior 2.1.0
 
   - urgency.scheduled.coefficient
   - color.scheduled
+  - color.blocking
 
-Newly deprecated features in taskwarrior 2.0.1
+Newly deprecated features in taskwarrior 2.1.0
 
   - None
 
diff --git a/doc/man/taskrc.5.in b/doc/man/taskrc.5.in
index 47a81ac71..cfbea5a1e 100644
--- a/doc/man/taskrc.5.in
+++ b/doc/man/taskrc.5.in
@@ -741,6 +741,9 @@ Task is started, therefore active.
 .B color.scheduled
 Task is scheduled, therefore ready for work.
 .br
+.B color.blocking
+Task is blocking another in a dependency.
+.br
 .B color.blocked
 Task is blocked by a dependency.
 .br
@@ -935,7 +938,7 @@ Colors the output of the merge command.
 .RE
 
 .TP
-.B rule.precedence.color=due.today,active,blocked,overdue,due,scheduled,keyword.,project.,tag.,recurring,pri,tagged,completed,deleted
+.B rule.precedence.color=due.today,active,blocking,blocked,overdue,due,scheduled,keyword.,project.,tag.,recurring,pri,tagged,completed,deleted
 .RS
 This setting specifies the precedence of the color rules, from highest to
 lowest.  Note that the prefix 'color.' is omitted (for brevity), and that any
diff --git a/src/Config.cpp b/src/Config.cpp
index a4450364b..c1ac85ae7 100644
--- a/src/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/Config.cpp
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ std::string Config::_defaults =
   "color.pri.L=rgb245                             # Color of priority:L tasks\n"
   "color.tagged=rgb031                            # Color of tagged tasks\n"
   "color.blocked=white on color8                  # Color of blocked tasks\n"
+  "color.blocking=white on color7                # Color of blocking tasks\n"
   "#color.completed=on blue                       # Color of completed tasks\n"
   "#color.deleted=on blue                         # Color of deleted tasks\n"
 #else
@@ -267,7 +268,7 @@ std::string Config::_defaults =
   "# Here is the rule precedence order, highest to lowest.\n"
   "# Note that these are just the color rule names, without the leading 'color.'\n"
   "#      and any trailing '.value'.\n"
-  "rule.precedence.color=due.today,active,blocked,overdue,due,scheduled,keyword.,project.,tag.,recurring,pri.,tagged,completed,deleted\n"
+  "rule.precedence.color=due.today,active,blocking,blocked,overdue,due,scheduled,keyword.,project.,tag.,recurring,pri.,tagged,completed,deleted\n"
   "\n"
   "# Shadow file support\n"
   "#shadow.file=/tmp/shadow.txt                   # Location of shadow file\n"
diff --git a/src/TDB2.cpp b/src/TDB2.cpp
index 6311a2617..c9d556c5e 100644
--- a/src/TDB2.cpp
+++ b/src/TDB2.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ TF2::TF2 ()
 , _loaded_tasks (false)
 , _loaded_lines (false)
 , _has_ids (false)
+, _auto_dep_scan (false)
 {
 }
 
@@ -311,6 +312,9 @@ void TF2::load_tasks ()
         _U2I[task.get ("uuid")] = task.id;
       }
     }
+ 
+    if (_auto_dep_scan)
+      dependency_scan ();
 
     _loaded_tasks = true;
   }
@@ -382,6 +386,12 @@ void TF2::has_ids ()
   _has_ids = true;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void TF2::auto_dep_scan ()
+{
+  _auto_dep_scan = true;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Completely wipe it all clean.
 void TF2::clear ()
@@ -391,9 +401,10 @@ void TF2::clear ()
   _loaded_tasks    = false;
   _loaded_lines    = false;
 
-  // Note that the actual file name, and _has_ids are deliberately not cleared.
+  // Note that these are deliberately not cleared.
   //_file._data      = "";
   //_has_ids         = false;
+  //_auto_dep_scan   = false;
 
   _tasks.clear ();
   _added_tasks.clear ();
@@ -404,6 +415,49 @@ void TF2::clear ()
   _U2I.clear ();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// For any task that has depenencies, follow the chain of dependencies until the
+// end.  Along the way, update the Task::is_blocked and Task::is_blocking data
+// cache.
+void TF2::dependency_scan ()
+{
+  // Iterate and modify TDB2 in-place.  Don't do this at home.
+  std::vector <Task>::iterator left;
+  for (left  = _tasks.begin ();
+       left != _tasks.end ();
+       ++left)
+  {
+    if (left->has ("depends"))
+    {
+      std::vector <std::string> deps;
+      left->getDependencies (deps);
+
+      std::vector <std::string>::iterator d;
+      for (d = deps.begin (); d != deps.end (); ++d)
+      {
+        std::vector <Task>::iterator right;
+        for (right  = _tasks.begin ();
+             right != _tasks.end ();
+             ++right)
+        {
+          if (right->get ("uuid") == *d)
+          {
+            Task::status status = right->getStatus ();
+            if (status != Task::completed &&
+                status != Task::deleted)
+            {
+              left->is_blocked = true;
+              right->is_blocking = true;
+            }
+
+            break;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 const std::string TF2::dump ()
 {
@@ -454,6 +508,10 @@ TDB2::TDB2 ()
 {
   // Mark the pending file as the only one that has ID numbers.
   pending.has_ids ();
+
+  // Indicate that dependencies should be automatically scanned on startup,
+  // setting Task::is_blocked and Task::is_blocking accordingly.
+  pending.auto_dep_scan ();
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/TDB2.h b/src/TDB2.h
index e94beef74..26872a018 100644
--- a/src/TDB2.h
+++ b/src/TDB2.h
@@ -66,15 +66,20 @@ public:
   int id (const std::string&);
 
   void has_ids ();
+  void auto_dep_scan ();
   void clear ();
   const std::string dump ();
 
+private:
+  void dependency_scan ();
+
 public:
   bool _read_only;
   bool _dirty;
   bool _loaded_tasks;
   bool _loaded_lines;
   bool _has_ids;
+  bool _auto_dep_scan;
   std::vector <Task> _tasks;
   std::vector <Task> _added_tasks;
   std::vector <Task> _modified_tasks;
diff --git a/src/Task.cpp b/src/Task.cpp
index 70266c5fd..d959ef1a9 100644
--- a/src/Task.cpp
+++ b/src/Task.cpp
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ Task::Task ()
 : id (0)
 , urgency_value (0.0)
 , recalc_urgency (true)
+, is_blocked (false)
+, is_blocking (false)
 {
 }
 
@@ -119,6 +121,8 @@ Task& Task::operator= (const Task& other)
     id             = other.id;
     urgency_value  = other.urgency_value;
     recalc_urgency = other.recalc_urgency;
+    is_blocked     = other.is_blocked;
+    is_blocking    = other.is_blocking;
   }
 
   return *this;
@@ -1409,22 +1413,8 @@ float Task::urgency_waiting () const
 // A task is blocked only if the task it depends upon is pending/waiting.
 float Task::urgency_blocked () const
 {
-  if (has ("depends"))
-  {
-    std::vector <std::string> deps;
-    getDependencies (deps);
-
-    std::vector <std::string>::iterator d;
-    for (d = deps.begin (); d != deps.end (); ++d)
-    {
-      Task t;
-      if (context.tdb2.get (*d, t) &&
-          (t.getStatus () == Task::pending || t.getStatus () == Task::waiting))
-      {
-        return 1.0;
-      }
-    }
-  }
+  if (is_blocked)
+    return 1.0;
 
   return 0.0;
 }
@@ -1524,7 +1514,7 @@ float Task::urgency_age () const
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 float Task::urgency_blocking () const
 {
-  if (dependencyIsBlocking (*this))
+  if (is_blocking)
     return 1.0;
 
   return 0.0;
diff --git a/src/Task.h b/src/Task.h
index 7f84d5537..a607895bd 100644
--- a/src/Task.h
+++ b/src/Task.h
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ public:
   float urgency_value;
   bool recalc_urgency;
 
+  bool is_blocked;
+  bool is_blocking;
+
   // Series of helper functions.
   static status textToStatus (const std::string&);
   static std::string statusToText (status);
diff --git a/src/commands/CmdShow.cpp b/src/commands/CmdShow.cpp
index 5d60065cb..096c18cfb 100644
--- a/src/commands/CmdShow.cpp
+++ b/src/commands/CmdShow.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ int CmdShow::execute (std::string& output)
     " color.active"
     " color.alternate"
     " color.blocked"
+    " color.blocking"
     " color.burndown.done"
     " color.burndown.pending"
     " color.burndown.started"
diff --git a/src/dependency.cpp b/src/dependency.cpp
index c127d0bc3..716cf54b9 100644
--- a/src/dependency.cpp
+++ b/src/dependency.cpp
@@ -39,28 +39,6 @@
 
 extern Context context;
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// A task is blocked if it depends on tasks that are pending or waiting.
-//
-//   1 --> 2(pending)    = blocked
-//   3 --> 4(completed)  = not blocked any more
-bool dependencyIsBlocked (const Task& task)
-{
-  std::string depends = task.get ("depends");
-  if (depends != "")
-  {
-    const std::vector <Task>& all = context.tdb2.pending.get_tasks ();
-    std::vector <Task>::const_iterator it;
-    for (it = all.begin (); it != all.end (); ++it)
-      if ((it->getStatus () == Task::pending  ||
-           it->getStatus () == Task::waiting) &&
-          depends.find (it->get ("uuid")) != std::string::npos)
-        return true;
-  }
-
-  return false;
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void dependencyGetBlocked (const Task& task, std::vector <Task>& blocked)
 {
@@ -76,26 +54,6 @@ void dependencyGetBlocked (const Task& task, std::vector <Task>& blocked)
       blocked.push_back (*it);
 }
 
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// To be a blocking task, there must be at least one other task that depends on
-// this task, that is either pending or waiting.
-bool dependencyIsBlocking (const Task& task)
-{
-  std::string uuid = task.get ("uuid");
-
-  const std::vector <Task>& all = context.tdb2.pending.get_tasks ();
-  std::vector <Task>::const_iterator it;
-  for (it = all.begin (); it != all.end (); ++it)
-    if ((it->getStatus () == Task::pending  ||
-         it->getStatus () == Task::waiting) &&
-        it->has ("depends")                 &&
-        it->get ("depends").find (uuid) != std::string::npos)
-      return true;
-
-  return false;
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void dependencyGetBlocking (const Task& task, std::vector <Task>& blocking)
 {
diff --git a/src/main.h b/src/main.h
index 6d35fa26e..10fc6afdc 100644
--- a/src/main.h
+++ b/src/main.h
@@ -59,9 +59,7 @@ std::string colorizeError (const std::string&);
 std::string colorizeDebug (const std::string&);
 
 // dependency.cpp
-bool dependencyIsBlocked (const Task&);
 void dependencyGetBlocked (const Task&, std::vector <Task>&);
-bool dependencyIsBlocking (const Task&);
 void dependencyGetBlocking (const Task&, std::vector <Task>&);
 bool dependencyIsCircular (const Task&);
 void dependencyChainOnComplete (Task&);
diff --git a/src/recur.cpp b/src/recur.cpp
index fd1d0cac3..214f72ea2 100644
--- a/src/recur.cpp
+++ b/src/recur.cpp
@@ -505,12 +505,12 @@ bool nag (Task& task)
     }
 
     // General form is "if there are no more deserving tasks", suppress the nag.
-    if (isOverdue                                                 ) return false;
-    if (pri == 'H' && !overdue                                    ) return false;
-    if (pri == 'M' && !overdue && !high                           ) return false;
-    if (pri == 'L' && !overdue && !high && !medium                ) return false;
-    if (pri == ' ' && !overdue && !high && !medium && !low        ) return false;
-    if (dependencyIsBlocking (task) && !dependencyIsBlocked (task)) return false;
+    if (isOverdue                                          ) return false;
+    if (pri == 'H' && !overdue                             ) return false;
+    if (pri == 'M' && !overdue && !high                    ) return false;
+    if (pri == 'L' && !overdue && !high && !medium         ) return false;
+    if (pri == ' ' && !overdue && !high && !medium && !low ) return false;
+    if (task.is_blocking && !task.is_blocked               ) return false;
 
     // All the excuses are made, all that remains is to nag the user.
     context.footnote (nagMessage);
diff --git a/src/rules.cpp b/src/rules.cpp
index b77916912..4d7a6b024 100644
--- a/src/rules.cpp
+++ b/src/rules.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 
 #define L10N                                           // Localization complete.
 
-#include <iostream>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <Context.h>
 #include <Date.h>
@@ -84,85 +83,80 @@ void initializeColorRules ()
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeBlocked (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeBlocked (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (dependencyIsBlocked (task))
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.is_blocked)
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeTagged (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeBlocking (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.getTagCount ())
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.is_blocking)
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizePriorityL (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeTagged (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.get ("priority") == "L")
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.getTagCount ())
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizePriorityM (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizePriorityL (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.get ("priority") == "M")
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.get ("priority") == "L")
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizePriorityH (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizePriorityM (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.get ("priority") == "H")
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.get ("priority") == "M")
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizePriorityNone (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizePriorityH (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.get ("priority") == "")
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.get ("priority") == "H")
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeActive (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizePriorityNone (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.has ("start") &&
-        !task.has ("end"))
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.get ("priority") == "")
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeScheduled (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeActive (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.has ("scheduled") &&
-        Date (task.get_date ("scheduled")) <= now)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.has ("start") &&
+      !task.has ("end"))
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeTag (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeScheduled (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.hasTag (rule.substr (10)))
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.has ("scheduled") &&
+      Date (task.get_date ("scheduled")) <= now)
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeProject (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeTag (Task& task, const std::string& rule, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (!gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    return;
+  if (task.hasTag (rule.substr (10)))
+    c.blend (base);
+}
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+static void colorizeProject (Task& task, const std::string& rule, const Color& base, Color& c)
+{
   // Observe the case sensitivity setting.
   bool sensitive = context.config.getBoolean ("search.case.sensitive");
 
@@ -172,38 +166,33 @@ static void colorizeProject (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
   // Match project names leftmost.
   if (rule_trunc.length () <= project.length ())
     if (compare (rule_trunc, project.substr (0, rule_trunc.length ()), sensitive))
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+      c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeProjectNone (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeProjectNone (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.get ("project") == "")
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.get ("project") == "")
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeTagNone (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeTagNone (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.getTagCount () == 0)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.getTagCount () == 0)
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeKeyword (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeKeyword (Task& task, const std::string& rule, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (!gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    return;
-
   // Observe the case sensitivity setting.
   bool sensitive = context.config.getBoolean ("search.case.sensitive");
 
   // The easiest thing to check is the description, because it is just one
   // attribute.
   if (find (task.get ("description"), rule.substr (14), sensitive) != std::string::npos)
-    c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+    c.blend (base);
 
   // Failing the description check, look at all annotations, returning on the
   // first match.
@@ -215,7 +204,7 @@ static void colorizeKeyword (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
       if (it->first.substr (0, 11) == "annotation_" &&
           find (it->second, rule.substr (14), sensitive) != std::string::npos)
       {
-        c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+        c.blend (base);
         return;
       }
     }
@@ -223,11 +212,8 @@ static void colorizeKeyword (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeDue (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeDue (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (!gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    return;
-
   Task::status status = task.getStatus ();
 
   if (task.has ("due")          &&
@@ -235,16 +221,13 @@ static void colorizeDue (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
       status != Task::deleted)
   {
     if (getDueState (task.get ("due")) == 1)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+      c.blend (base);
   }
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeDueToday (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeDueToday (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (!gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    return;
-
   Task::status status = task.getStatus ();
 
   if (task.has ("due")          &&
@@ -252,16 +235,13 @@ static void colorizeDueToday (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
       status != Task::deleted)
   {
     if (getDueState (task.get ("due")) == 2)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+      c.blend (base);
   }
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeOverdue (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeOverdue (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (!gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    return;
-
   Task::status status = task.getStatus ();
 
   if (task.has ("due")          &&
@@ -269,32 +249,29 @@ static void colorizeOverdue (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
       status != Task::deleted)
   {
     if (getDueState (task.get ("due")) == 3)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+      c.blend (base);
   }
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeRecurring (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeRecurring (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.has ("recur"))
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.has ("recur"))
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeCompleted (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeCompleted (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.getStatus () == Task::completed)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.getStatus () == Task::completed)
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-static void colorizeDeleted (Task& task, const std::string& rule, Color& c)
+static void colorizeDeleted (Task& task, const Color& base, Color& c)
 {
-  if (gsColor[rule].nontrivial ())
-    if (task.getStatus () == Task::completed)
-      c.blend (gsColor[rule]);
+  if (task.getStatus () == Task::completed)
+    c.blend (base);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -314,27 +291,32 @@ void autoColorize (Task& task, Color& c)
   std::vector <std::string>::reverse_iterator r;
   for (r = gsPrecedence.rbegin (); r != gsPrecedence.rend (); ++r)
   {
-         if (*r == "color.blocked")                 colorizeBlocked      (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.tagged")                  colorizeTagged       (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.pri.L")                   colorizePriorityL    (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.pri.M")                   colorizePriorityM    (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.pri.H")                   colorizePriorityH    (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.pri.none")                colorizePriorityNone (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.active")                  colorizeActive       (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.scheduled")               colorizeScheduled    (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.project.none")            colorizeProjectNone  (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.tag.none")                colorizeTagNone      (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.due")                     colorizeDue          (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.due.today")               colorizeDueToday     (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.overdue")                 colorizeOverdue      (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.recurring")               colorizeRecurring    (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.completed")               colorizeCompleted    (task, *r, c);
-    else if (*r == "color.deleted")                 colorizeDeleted      (task, *r, c);
+    Color base = gsColor[*r];
+    if (base.nontrivial ())
+    {
+           if (*r == "color.blocked")                 colorizeBlocked      (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.blocking")                colorizeBlocking     (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.tagged")                  colorizeTagged       (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.pri.L")                   colorizePriorityL    (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.pri.M")                   colorizePriorityM    (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.pri.H")                   colorizePriorityH    (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.pri.none")                colorizePriorityNone (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.active")                  colorizeActive       (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.scheduled")               colorizeScheduled    (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.project.none")            colorizeProjectNone  (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.tag.none")                colorizeTagNone      (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.due")                     colorizeDue          (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.due.today")               colorizeDueToday     (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.overdue")                 colorizeOverdue      (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.recurring")               colorizeRecurring    (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.completed")               colorizeCompleted    (task, base, c);
+      else if (*r == "color.deleted")                 colorizeDeleted      (task, base, c);
 
-    // Wildcards
-    else if (r->substr (0, 10) == "color.tag.")     colorizeTag          (task, *r, c);
-    else if (r->substr (0, 14) == "color.project.") colorizeProject      (task, *r, c);
-    else if (r->substr (0, 14) == "color.keyword.") colorizeKeyword      (task, *r, c);
+      // Wildcards
+      else if (r->substr (0, 10) == "color.tag.")     colorizeTag          (task, *r, base, c);
+      else if (r->substr (0, 14) == "color.project.") colorizeProject      (task, *r, base, c);
+      else if (r->substr (0, 14) == "color.keyword.") colorizeKeyword      (task, *r, base, c);
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/special.t b/test/special.t
index 8ff3f8d06..4cbc643aa 100755
--- a/test/special.t
+++ b/test/special.t
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ if (open my $fh, '>', 'special.rc')
             "color.alternate=\n",
             "color.tagged=\n",
             "color.pri.H=\n",
+            "color.completed=\n",
             "nag=NAG\n",
             "_forcecolor=1\n";
   close $fh;
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ if (open my $fh, '>', 'special.rc')
 # Prove that +nocolor suppresses all color for a task.
 qx{../src/task rc:special.rc add should have no red +nocolor priority:H 2>&1};
 qx{../src/task rc:special.rc add should be red +nonag 2>&1};
+
 my $output = qx{../src/task rc:special.rc ls 2>&1};
 like ($output, qr/\s1\s+H\s+should have no red/,      'no red in first task due to +nocolor');
 like ($output, qr/\033\[31mshould be red\s+\033\[0m/, 'red in second task');