diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 333c836..917c45f 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ const skipModels = new Set(['gray']);
 
 const styles = Object.create(null);
 
-function applyOptions(obj, options) {
-	options = options || {};
+function applyOptions(obj, options = {}) {
+	if (options.level > 3 || options.level < 0) {
+		throw new Error('The `level` option should be an integer from 0 to 3');
+	}
 
 	// Detect level if not set manually
 	const scLevel = stdoutColor ? stdoutColor.level : 0;
diff --git a/test/constructor.js b/test/constructor.js
index 510f1a0..bda0137 100644
--- a/test/constructor.js
+++ b/test/constructor.js
@@ -20,3 +20,15 @@ test('create an isolated context where colors can be disabled (by enabled flag)'
 	instance.enabled = true;
 	t.is(instance.red('foo'), '\u001B[31mfoo\u001B[39m');
 });
+
+test('the `level` option should be a number from 0 to 3', t => {
+	/* eslint-disable no-new */
+	t.throws(() => {
+		new chalk.constructor({level: 10});
+	}, /should be an integer from 0 to 3/);
+
+	t.throws(() => {
+		new chalk.constructor({level: -1});
+	}, /should be an integer from 0 to 3/);
+	/* eslint-enable no-new */
+});