diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
index c90947bba90..f382034c313 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
@@ -157,8 +157,7 @@ EOF
       Echo the actual queries generated by <command>\d</command> and other backslash
       commands. You can use this to study <application>psql</application>'s
       internal operations. This is equivalent to
-      setting the variable <varname>ECHO_HIDDEN</varname> from within
-      <application>psql</application>.
+      setting the variable <varname>ECHO_HIDDEN</varname> to <literal>on</>.
       </para>
       </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
@@ -317,8 +316,8 @@ EOF
       quietly. By default, it prints welcome messages and various
       informational output. If this option is used, none of this
       happens. This is useful with the <option>-c</option> option.
-      Within <application>psql</application> you can also set the
-      <varname>QUIET</varname> variable to achieve the same effect.
+      This is equivalent to setting the variable <varname>QUIET</varname>
+      to <literal>on</>.
       </para>
       </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
@@ -2455,8 +2454,9 @@ bar
         <term><varname>ECHO_HIDDEN</varname></term>
         <listitem>
         <para>
-        When this variable is set and a backslash command queries the
-        database, the query is first shown. This way you can study the
+        When this variable is set to <literal>on</> and a backslash command
+        queries the database, the query is first shown.
+        This feature helps you to study
         <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> internals and provide
         similar functionality in your own programs. (To select this behavior
         on program start-up, use the switch <option>-E</option>.)  If you set
@@ -2614,16 +2614,16 @@ bar
         <term><varname>ON_ERROR_ROLLBACK</varname></term>
         <listitem>
         <para>
-        When <literal>on</>, if a statement in a transaction block
+        When set to <literal>on</>, if a statement in a transaction block
         generates an error, the error is ignored and the transaction
-        continues. When <literal>interactive</>, such errors are only
+        continues. When set to <literal>interactive</>, such errors are only
         ignored in interactive sessions, and not when reading script
-        files. When <literal>off</> (the default), a statement in a
+        files. When unset or set to <literal>off</>, a statement in a
         transaction block that generates an error aborts the entire
-        transaction. The on_error_rollback-on mode works by issuing an
+        transaction. The error rollback mode works by issuing an
         implicit <command>SAVEPOINT</> for you, just before each command
-        that is in a transaction block, and rolls back to the savepoint
-        on error.
+        that is in a transaction block, and then rolling back to the
+        savepoint if the command fails.
         </para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
@@ -2636,9 +2636,10 @@ bar
         as a malformed <acronym>SQL</acronym> command or internal
         meta-command, processing continues. This has been the
         traditional behavior of <application>psql</application> but it
-        is sometimes not desirable. If this variable is set, script
-        processing will immediately terminate. If the script was called
-        from another script it will terminate in the same fashion. If
+        is sometimes not desirable. If this variable is set to <literal>on</>,
+        script processing will immediately terminate after an error.
+        If the script was called
+        from another script, that one will terminate in the same fashion. If
         the outermost script was not called from an interactive
         <application>psql</application> session but rather using the
         <option>-f</option> option, <application>psql</application> will
@@ -2677,8 +2678,8 @@ bar
         <term><varname>QUIET</varname></term>
         <listitem>
         <para>
-        This variable is equivalent to the command line option
-        <option>-q</option>. It is probably not too useful in
+        Setting this variable to <literal>on</> is equivalent to the command
+        line option <option>-q</option>. It is probably not too useful in
         interactive mode.
         </para>
         </listitem>
@@ -2688,8 +2689,8 @@ bar
         <term><varname>SINGLELINE</varname></term>
         <listitem>
         <para>
-        This variable is equivalent to the command line option
-        <option>-S</option>.
+        Setting this variable to <literal>on</> is equivalent to the command
+        line option <option>-S</option>.
         </para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
@@ -2698,8 +2699,8 @@ bar
         <term><varname>SINGLESTEP</varname></term>
         <listitem>
         <para>
-        This variable is equivalent to the command line option
-        <option>-s</option>.
+        Setting this variable to <literal>on</> is equivalent to the command
+        line option <option>-s</option>.
         </para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/command.c b/src/bin/psql/command.c
index 35c757ec415..d2967edaa0a 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/command.c
+++ b/src/bin/psql/command.c
@@ -1025,7 +1025,7 @@ exec_command(const char *cmd,
 												 OT_NORMAL, NULL, false);
 
 		if (opt)
-			pset.timing = ParseVariableBool(opt);
+			pset.timing = ParseVariableBool(opt, "\\timing");
 		else
 			pset.timing = !pset.timing;
 		if (!pset.quiet)
@@ -1882,10 +1882,12 @@ do_pset(const char *param, const char *value, printQueryOpt *popt, bool quiet)
 	}
 
 	/* set expanded/vertical mode */
-	else if (strcmp(param, "x") == 0 || strcmp(param, "expanded") == 0 || strcmp(param, "vertical") == 0)
+	else if (strcmp(param, "x") == 0 ||
+			 strcmp(param, "expanded") == 0 ||
+			 strcmp(param, "vertical") == 0)
 	{
 		if (value)
-			popt->topt.expanded = ParseVariableBool(value);
+			popt->topt.expanded = ParseVariableBool(value, param);
 		else
 			popt->topt.expanded = !popt->topt.expanded;
 		if (!quiet)
@@ -1898,7 +1900,7 @@ do_pset(const char *param, const char *value, printQueryOpt *popt, bool quiet)
 	else if (strcmp(param, "numericlocale") == 0)
 	{
 		if (value)
-			popt->topt.numericLocale = ParseVariableBool(value);
+			popt->topt.numericLocale = ParseVariableBool(value, param);
 		else
 			popt->topt.numericLocale = !popt->topt.numericLocale;
 		if (!quiet)
@@ -1955,7 +1957,7 @@ do_pset(const char *param, const char *value, printQueryOpt *popt, bool quiet)
 	else if (strcmp(param, "t") == 0 || strcmp(param, "tuples_only") == 0)
 	{
 		if (value)
-			popt->topt.tuples_only = ParseVariableBool(value);
+			popt->topt.tuples_only = ParseVariableBool(value, param);
 		else
 			popt->topt.tuples_only = !popt->topt.tuples_only;
 		if (!quiet)
@@ -2009,10 +2011,12 @@ do_pset(const char *param, const char *value, printQueryOpt *popt, bool quiet)
 		if (value && pg_strcasecmp(value, "always") == 0)
 			popt->topt.pager = 2;
 		else if (value)
-			if (ParseVariableBool(value))
+		{
+			if (ParseVariableBool(value, param))
 				popt->topt.pager = 1;
 			else
 				popt->topt.pager = 0;
+		}
 		else if (popt->topt.pager == 1)
 			popt->topt.pager = 0;
 		else
@@ -2032,7 +2036,7 @@ do_pset(const char *param, const char *value, printQueryOpt *popt, bool quiet)
 	else if (strcmp(param, "footer") == 0)
 	{
 		if (value)
-			popt->default_footer = ParseVariableBool(value);
+			popt->default_footer = ParseVariableBool(value, param);
 		else
 			popt->default_footer = !popt->default_footer;
 		if (!quiet)
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/startup.c b/src/bin/psql/startup.c
index 805909ea254..15a0965865f 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/startup.c
+++ b/src/bin/psql/startup.c
@@ -631,31 +631,31 @@ showVersion(void)
 static void
 autocommit_hook(const char *newval)
 {
-	pset.autocommit = ParseVariableBool(newval);
+	pset.autocommit = ParseVariableBool(newval, "AUTOCOMMIT");
 }
 
 static void
 on_error_stop_hook(const char *newval)
 {
-	pset.on_error_stop = ParseVariableBool(newval);
+	pset.on_error_stop = ParseVariableBool(newval, "ON_ERROR_STOP");
 }
 
 static void
 quiet_hook(const char *newval)
 {
-	pset.quiet = ParseVariableBool(newval);
+	pset.quiet = ParseVariableBool(newval, "QUIET");
 }
 
 static void
 singleline_hook(const char *newval)
 {
-	pset.singleline = ParseVariableBool(newval);
+	pset.singleline = ParseVariableBool(newval, "SINGLELINE");
 }
 
 static void
 singlestep_hook(const char *newval)
 {
-	pset.singlestep = ParseVariableBool(newval);
+	pset.singlestep = ParseVariableBool(newval, "SINGLESTEP");
 }
 
 static void
@@ -669,12 +669,18 @@ echo_hook(const char *newval)
 {
 	if (newval == NULL)
 		pset.echo = PSQL_ECHO_NONE;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "queries") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "queries") == 0)
 		pset.echo = PSQL_ECHO_QUERIES;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "all") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "all") == 0)
 		pset.echo = PSQL_ECHO_ALL;
-	else
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "none") == 0)
 		pset.echo = PSQL_ECHO_NONE;
+	else
+	{
+		psql_error("unrecognized value \"%s\" for \"%s\"; assuming \"%s\"\n",
+				   newval, "ECHO", "none");
+		pset.echo = PSQL_ECHO_NONE;
+	}
 }
 
 static void
@@ -682,12 +688,12 @@ echo_hidden_hook(const char *newval)
 {
 	if (newval == NULL)
 		pset.echo_hidden = PSQL_ECHO_HIDDEN_OFF;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "noexec") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "noexec") == 0)
 		pset.echo_hidden = PSQL_ECHO_HIDDEN_NOEXEC;
-	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "off") == 0)
-		pset.echo_hidden = PSQL_ECHO_HIDDEN_OFF;
-	else
+	else if (ParseVariableBool(newval, "ECHO_HIDDEN"))
 		pset.echo_hidden = PSQL_ECHO_HIDDEN_ON;
+	else	/* ParseVariableBool printed msg if needed */
+		pset.echo_hidden = PSQL_ECHO_HIDDEN_OFF;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -697,10 +703,10 @@ on_error_rollback_hook(const char *newval)
 		pset.on_error_rollback = PSQL_ERROR_ROLLBACK_OFF;
 	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "interactive") == 0)
 		pset.on_error_rollback = PSQL_ERROR_ROLLBACK_INTERACTIVE;
-	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "off") == 0)
-		pset.on_error_rollback = PSQL_ERROR_ROLLBACK_OFF;
-	else
+	else if (ParseVariableBool(newval, "ON_ERROR_ROLLBACK"))
 		pset.on_error_rollback = PSQL_ERROR_ROLLBACK_ON;
+	else	/* ParseVariableBool printed msg if needed */
+		pset.on_error_rollback = PSQL_ERROR_ROLLBACK_OFF;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -708,14 +714,20 @@ histcontrol_hook(const char *newval)
 {
 	if (newval == NULL)
 		pset.histcontrol = hctl_none;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "ignorespace") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "ignorespace") == 0)
 		pset.histcontrol = hctl_ignorespace;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "ignoredups") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "ignoredups") == 0)
 		pset.histcontrol = hctl_ignoredups;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "ignoreboth") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "ignoreboth") == 0)
 		pset.histcontrol = hctl_ignoreboth;
-	else
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "none") == 0)
 		pset.histcontrol = hctl_none;
+	else
+	{
+		psql_error("unrecognized value \"%s\" for \"%s\"; assuming \"%s\"\n",
+				   newval, "HISTCONTROL", "none");
+		pset.histcontrol = hctl_none;
+	}
 }
 
 static void
@@ -741,14 +753,18 @@ verbosity_hook(const char *newval)
 {
 	if (newval == NULL)
 		pset.verbosity = PQERRORS_DEFAULT;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "default") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "default") == 0)
 		pset.verbosity = PQERRORS_DEFAULT;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "terse") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "terse") == 0)
 		pset.verbosity = PQERRORS_TERSE;
-	else if (strcmp(newval, "verbose") == 0)
+	else if (pg_strcasecmp(newval, "verbose") == 0)
 		pset.verbosity = PQERRORS_VERBOSE;
 	else
+	{
+		psql_error("unrecognized value \"%s\" for \"%s\"; assuming \"%s\"\n",
+				   newval, "VERBOSITY", "default");
 		pset.verbosity = PQERRORS_DEFAULT;
+	}
 
 	if (pset.db)
 		PQsetErrorVerbosity(pset.db, pset.verbosity);
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/variables.c b/src/bin/psql/variables.c
index 7a479a50604..ce0d983f52c 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/variables.c
+++ b/src/bin/psql/variables.c
@@ -49,11 +49,16 @@ GetVariable(VariableSpace space, const char *name)
 }
 
 /*
- * Try to interpret value as boolean value.  Valid values are: true,
- * false, yes, no, on, off, 1, 0; as well as unique prefixes thereof.
+ * Try to interpret "value" as boolean value.
+ *
+ * Valid values are: true, false, yes, no, on, off, 1, 0; as well as unique
+ * prefixes thereof.
+ *
+ * "name" is the name of the variable we're assigning to, to use in error
+ * report if any.  Pass name == NULL to suppress the error report.
  */
 bool
-ParseVariableBool(const char *value)
+ParseVariableBool(const char *value, const char *name)
 {
 	size_t		len;
 
@@ -82,7 +87,9 @@ ParseVariableBool(const char *value)
 	else
 	{
 		/* NULL is treated as false, so a non-matching value is 'true' */
-		psql_error("unrecognized boolean value; assuming \"on\".\n");
+		if (name)
+			psql_error("unrecognized value \"%s\" for \"%s\"; assuming \"%s\"\n",
+					   value, name, "on");
 		return true;
 	}
 	/* suppress compiler warning */
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/variables.h b/src/bin/psql/variables.h
index eb73ebdc062..2c49137e4dc 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/variables.h
+++ b/src/bin/psql/variables.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ typedef struct _variable *VariableSpace;
 VariableSpace CreateVariableSpace(void);
 const char *GetVariable(VariableSpace space, const char *name);
 
-bool		ParseVariableBool(const char *val);
+bool		ParseVariableBool(const char *value, const char *name);
 int ParseVariableNum(const char *val,
 				 int defaultval,
 				 int faultval,