diff --git a/.agents/docs/ink-divergences.md b/.agents/docs/ink-divergences.md
index 918c111..6f2db3b 100644
--- a/.agents/docs/ink-divergences.md
+++ b/.agents/docs/ink-divergences.md
@@ -576,15 +576,16 @@ different runtime behavior, ownership rule, or out-of-contract handling.
 
 ### Invalid input is validated at the component layer, not the paint layer
 
-- **Principle:** vue-tui validates invalid render input (a chalk-**modifier**
-  `backgroundColor` like `"bold"`, an unknown `borderStyle`) at the
+- **Principle:** vue-tui validates the covered invalid render inputs — a
+  chalk-**modifier** `backgroundColor` like `"bold"`, a foreground color key that exists
+  on chalk but is not callable like `"level"`, and an unknown `borderStyle` — at the
   **component-render layer** (`box.ts` / `text.ts`), not down at the **paint layer**. A bad
   value therefore throws where the **error boundary** catches it -> `ErrorOverview` -> a
   clean `reject` of `waitUntilExit()`, exactly like any other component error. The app
   reports the error instead of crashing.
-- **Ink:** validates the same inputs **lazily at paint** (`colorize` / `render-border`, run
-  from the reconciler's commit hook): **outside** React's ErrorBoundary, so a bad value is
-  an uncaught crash, not a recoverable error.
+- **Ink:** validates the same covered inputs **lazily at paint** (`colorize` /
+  `render-border`, run from the reconciler's commit hook): **outside** React's
+  ErrorBoundary, so a bad value is an uncaught crash, not a recoverable error.
 - **Why:** the key constraint is where paint runs. vue-tui's paint runs in a Vue
   **post-flush callback** (`queuePostFlushCb`, decoupled from render), so a throw there
   escapes `onErrorCaptured` and wedges the scheduler. Unlike a component error, it cannot
@@ -601,12 +602,13 @@ different runtime behavior, ownership rule, or out-of-contract handling.
   that bypasses component validation), so it stands on that prior record, not an in-audit
   reproduction.
 - **Cost:** the component-layer check is eager (no paint-time layout/squash info), so it
-  over-throws in a few degenerate, invalid-input-only cases Ink never reaches. Realistic
-  inputs match Ink; both error on bad input. Only the channel (recoverable reject vs crash)
-  differs. Maintainer decision (2026-06-07): KEEP. vue-tui makes the more reliable
-  library choice here: reject the same invalid input with a recoverable, prop-specific
-  error instead of preserving Ink's lower-level paint crash and chalk implementation
-  message. Tests: `background-color.test.tsx`, plus the `borderStyle` validation tests.
+  over-throws in a few degenerate, invalid-input-only cases Ink never reaches. For the
+  covered public inputs in normal reachable cases, both libraries error; only the channel
+  (recoverable reject vs crash) differs. Maintainer decision (2026-06-07): KEEP. vue-tui
+  makes the more reliable library choice here: reject the same invalid input with a
+  recoverable, prop-specific error instead of preserving Ink's lower-level paint crash and
+  chalk implementation message. Tests: `background-color.test.tsx`, plus the `borderStyle`
+  validation tests.
 
 ## Non-Behavioral Notes
 
diff --git a/packages/runtime-tests/integration/components/background-color.test.tsx b/packages/runtime-tests/integration/components/background-color.test.tsx
index bb8f00b..9ec2cd1 100644
--- a/packages/runtime-tests/integration/components/background-color.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/runtime-tests/integration/components/background-color.test.tsx
@@ -875,6 +875,46 @@ test('foreground color="bold" (a chalk modifier) bolds, does NOT throw', async (
   expect(lastFrame()).toContain("\x1b[1m");
 });
 
+// Foreground colors have their own invalid named-color edge: some chalk keys
+// exist but are not callable color/modifier methods. Ink calls chalk[color] in
+// that case and crashes; vue-tui validates during render so the app rejects
+// through ErrorOverview instead of letting paint wedge the scheduler.
+test('foreground color="level" throws (Ink parity, recoverable channel)', async ({ expect }) => {
+  await expect(
+    render(
+      defineComponent(() => () => (
+        <Box alignSelf="flex-start">
+          <Text color="level">Hi</Text>
+        </Box>
+      )),
+      { columns: 100 },
+    ),
+  ).rejects.toThrow(/color/i);
+});
+
+for (const borderColorProp of [
+  "borderColor",
+  "borderTopColor",
+  "borderBottomColor",
+  "borderLeftColor",
+  "borderRightColor",
+] as const) {
+  test(`<Box ${borderColorProp}="level"> throws (Ink parity, recoverable channel)`, async ({
+    expect,
+  }) => {
+    await expect(
+      render(
+        defineComponent(() => () => (
+          <Box borderStyle="single" {...{ [borderColorProp]: "level" }} alignSelf="flex-start">
+            <Text>Hi</Text>
+          </Box>
+        )),
+        { columns: 100 },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/color/i);
+  });
+}
+
 // --- A12 gating: vue must throw WHERE Ink colorizes, and NOT elsewhere ---
 //
 // Ink throws on a chalk-modifier-name bg LAZILY — only when it actually
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/components/box.ts b/packages/runtime/src/components/box.ts
index 0de066d..0e5ec51 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/components/box.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/components/box.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { defineComponent, h, inject, type ExtractPublicPropTypes, type PropType } from "vue";
 import cliBoxes from "cli-boxes";
 import { AppContextKey } from "../context.ts";
-import { assertValidBackgroundColor } from "../paint/text-style.ts";
+import { assertValidBackgroundColor, assertValidForegroundColor } from "../paint/text-style.ts";
 import type { WithChildren } from "./with-children.ts";
 
 type Spacing = number;
@@ -216,29 +216,46 @@ const BoxImpl = defineComponent({
       // width=0 with no left/right border) produces an empty string Ink skips.
       // Matching that needs layout, unavailable at render. Niche + invalid-input-only.
       if (props.borderStyle) {
-        const stringBg = (value: unknown) => (typeof value === "string" ? value : undefined);
-        const generalBg = stringBg(props.borderBackgroundColor);
+        const stringStyle = (value: unknown) => (typeof value === "string" ? value : undefined);
+        const generalBg = stringStyle(props.borderBackgroundColor);
+        const generalFg = stringStyle(props.borderColor);
         if (props.borderTop !== false) {
+          assertValidForegroundColor(
+            stringStyle(props.borderTopColor) ?? generalFg,
+            "borderTopColor",
+          );
           assertValidBackgroundColor(
-            stringBg(props.borderTopBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
+            stringStyle(props.borderTopBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
             "borderTopBackgroundColor",
           );
         }
         if (props.borderBottom !== false) {
+          assertValidForegroundColor(
+            stringStyle(props.borderBottomColor) ?? generalFg,
+            "borderBottomColor",
+          );
           assertValidBackgroundColor(
-            stringBg(props.borderBottomBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
+            stringStyle(props.borderBottomBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
             "borderBottomBackgroundColor",
           );
         }
         if (props.borderLeft !== false) {
+          assertValidForegroundColor(
+            stringStyle(props.borderLeftColor) ?? generalFg,
+            "borderLeftColor",
+          );
           assertValidBackgroundColor(
-            stringBg(props.borderLeftBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
+            stringStyle(props.borderLeftBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
             "borderLeftBackgroundColor",
           );
         }
         if (props.borderRight !== false) {
+          assertValidForegroundColor(
+            stringStyle(props.borderRightColor) ?? generalFg,
+            "borderRightColor",
+          );
           assertValidBackgroundColor(
-            stringBg(props.borderRightBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
+            stringStyle(props.borderRightBackgroundColor) ?? generalBg,
             "borderRightBackgroundColor",
           );
         }
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/components/text.ts b/packages/runtime/src/components/text.ts
index e846cec..6b9e9f3 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/components/text.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/components/text.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
   type VNode,
 } from "vue";
 import { AppContextKey } from "../context.ts";
-import { assertValidBackgroundColor } from "../paint/text-style.ts";
+import { assertValidBackgroundColor, assertValidForegroundColor } from "../paint/text-style.ts";
 import type { WithChildren } from "./with-children.ts";
 
 type WrapMode =
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ const TextImpl = defineComponent({
       // a group of only empty/inert children) gets past it, so we additionally
       // skip validation when the content would render empty. (A12)
       if (wouldRenderNonEmptyText(children)) {
+        assertValidForegroundColor(props.color);
         assertValidBackgroundColor(props.backgroundColor);
       }
 
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.test.ts b/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.test.ts
index 7f1f6c1..6cdc083 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.test.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import chalk from "chalk";
 import { expect, test } from "vite-plus/test";
-import { applyChalk, assertValidBackgroundColor, isInvalidBackgroundColor } from "./text-style.ts";
+import {
+  applyChalk,
+  assertValidBackgroundColor,
+  assertValidForegroundColor,
+  isInvalidBackgroundColor,
+  isInvalidForegroundColor,
+} from "./text-style.ts";
 
 test("named color applies chalk method", () => {
   const prev = chalk.level;
@@ -208,6 +214,19 @@ test("assertValidBackgroundColor throws only for a modifier name, with the label
   expect(() => assertValidBackgroundColor(undefined)).not.toThrow();
 });
 
+test("assertValidForegroundColor throws only for chalk keys that are not methods", () => {
+  expect(isInvalidForegroundColor("level")).toBe(true);
+  expect(() => assertValidForegroundColor("level")).toThrow(/color/i);
+  expect(() => assertValidForegroundColor("level", "borderTopColor")).toThrow(/borderTopColor/);
+
+  // Valid foreground forms and unknown strings keep Ink's bare-text fallback.
+  expect(isInvalidForegroundColor("bold")).toBe(false);
+  expect(isInvalidForegroundColor("red")).toBe(false);
+  expect(isInvalidForegroundColor("#abcdef")).toBe(false);
+  expect(isInvalidForegroundColor("not-a-real-color")).toBe(false);
+  expect(isInvalidForegroundColor(undefined)).toBe(false);
+});
+
 // Foreground is UNAFFECTED: `color="bold"` resolves `chalk.bold` (a real fn) and
 // applies the modifier — Ink does NOT throw on a foreground modifier name, and
 // neither does vue-tui. (Only the bg path has the missing-`bg*`-method problem.)
diff --git a/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.ts b/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.ts
index 83bfc05..9ab4fb2 100644
--- a/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.ts
+++ b/packages/runtime/src/paint/text-style.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,19 @@ export function isInvalidBackgroundColor(color: unknown): boolean {
   return typeof bgMethod !== "function";
 }
 
+/**
+ * Detect a foreground color value that Ink's `colorize` would THROW on.
+ *
+ * Ink's foreground path calls `chalk[color](str)` when `color in chalk`. That
+ * works for real colors and modifiers (`red`, `bold`) but throws for non-method
+ * chalk properties such as `level`.
+ */
+export function isInvalidForegroundColor(color: unknown): boolean {
+  if (typeof color !== "string" || color.length === 0) return false;
+  const method = (chalk as unknown as Record<string, unknown>)[color];
+  return color in (chalk as unknown as Record<string, unknown>) && typeof method !== "function";
+}
+
 /**
  * Throw (during component render) if `color` is a chalk-modifier-name
  * backgroundColor — the exact case Ink's colorize.ts throws on. No-op for every
@@ -82,6 +95,18 @@ export function assertValidBackgroundColor(color: unknown, label = "backgroundCo
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Throw during component render for foreground color names that Ink's paint path
+ * would throw on. `label` names the offending prop in the message.
+ */
+export function assertValidForegroundColor(color: unknown, label = "color"): void {
+  if (isInvalidForegroundColor(color)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Invalid ${label}: ${JSON.stringify(color)} (chalk has this key but it is not a color method)`,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 export function applyChalk(text: string, props: TextProps): string {
   // Mirror Ink's Text.tsx `transform` (commit 40b3a75): apply each enabled
   // style as its OWN nested chalk call, in the exact order