diff --git a/common/fractint.cpp b/common/fractint.cpp
index 469f6f50c..f0d3a874e 100644
--- a/common/fractint.cpp
+++ b/common/fractint.cpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ long    g_l_at_rad;               // finite attractor radius
 double  g_f_at_rad;               // finite attractor radius
 int     g_bit_shift;               // fudgefactor
 
-int     g_bad_config = 0;          // 'fractint.cfg' ok?
+config_status     g_bad_config{};          // 'fractint.cfg' ok?
 bool g_has_inverse = false;
 // note that integer grid is set when integerfractal && !invert;
 // otherwise the floating point grid is set; never both at once
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ static void main_restart(int const argc, char const *const argv[], bool &stacked
     g_save_dac = 0;                         // don't save the VGA DAC
 
 #ifndef XFRACT
-    if (g_bad_config < 0)                   // fractint.cfg bad, no msg yet
+    if (g_bad_config == config_status::BAD_NO_MESSAGE)
     {
         bad_fractint_cfg_msg();
     }
diff --git a/common/miscovl.cpp b/common/miscovl.cpp
index d44a0a691..143f92463 100644
--- a/common/miscovl.cpp
+++ b/common/miscovl.cpp
@@ -2007,7 +2007,7 @@ int select_video_mode(int curmode)
     {
         // update fractint.cfg for new key assignments
         if (modes_changed
-            && g_bad_config == 0
+            && g_bad_config == config_status::OK
             && stopmsg(STOPMSG_CANCEL | STOPMSG_NO_BUZZER | STOPMSG_INFO_ONLY,
                 "Save new function key assignments or cancel changes?") == 0)
         {
@@ -2041,7 +2041,7 @@ int select_video_mode(int curmode)
     }
 
     // update fractint.cfg for new key assignments
-    if (modes_changed && g_bad_config == 0)
+    if (modes_changed && g_bad_config == config_status::OK)
     {
         update_fractint_cfg();
     }
@@ -2089,7 +2089,7 @@ static int check_modekey(int curkey, int choice)
     if ((curkey == '-' || curkey == '+')
         && (g_video_table[i].keynum == 0 || g_video_table[i].keynum >= 1084))
     {
-        if (g_bad_config)
+        if (g_bad_config != config_status::OK)
         {
             stopmsg(STOPMSG_NONE, "Missing or bad FRACTINT.CFG file. Can't reassign keys.");
         }
diff --git a/common/realdos.cpp b/common/realdos.cpp
index 35eef39a1..7c629dcad 100644
--- a/common/realdos.cpp
+++ b/common/realdos.cpp
@@ -2069,7 +2069,7 @@ void load_fractint_config()
     return;
 
 bad_fractint_cfg:
-    g_bad_config = -1; // bad, no message issued yet
+    g_bad_config = config_status::BAD_NO_MESSAGE;
 }
 
 void bad_fractint_cfg_msg()
@@ -2078,7 +2078,7 @@ void bad_fractint_cfg_msg()
             "File FRACTINT.CFG is missing or invalid.\n"
             "See Hardware Support and Video Modes in the full documentation for help.\n"
             "I will continue with only the built-in video modes available.");
-    g_bad_config = 1; // bad, message issued
+    g_bad_config = config_status::BAD_WITH_MESSAGE;
 }
 
 int check_vidmode_key(int option, int k)
diff --git a/headers/id_data.h b/headers/id_data.h
index 796a6df3b..6e7271b4a 100644
--- a/headers/id_data.h
+++ b/headers/id_data.h
@@ -16,11 +16,18 @@ enum class calc_status_value
     COMPLETED = 4
 };
 
+enum class config_status
+{
+    OK = 0,
+    BAD_WITH_MESSAGE = 1,
+    BAD_NO_MESSAGE = -1
+};
+
 enum class help_labels;
 
 extern int                   g_adapter;             // index into g_video_table[]
 extern bool                  g_auto_browse;
-extern int                   g_bad_config;
+extern config_status         g_bad_config;
 extern int                   g_bit_shift;
 extern int                   g_box_count;
 extern std::string           g_browse_mask;