diff --git a/infer/man/man1/infer-analyze.txt b/infer/man/man1/infer-analyze.txt
index a4d9f5bd9..2b722ce67 100644
--- a/infer/man/man1/infer-analyze.txt
+++ b/infer/man/man1/infer-analyze.txt
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ OPTIONS
            On Java, issues that are found on program paths that contain calls
            to unknown methods (those without implementation) are not reported
            unless all the unknown method names match this pattern. If the
-           empty list is provided or
-           --pulse_report_ignore_unknown_java_methods_patterns-reset, all
+           empty list is provided with
+           --pulse-report-ignore-unknown-java-methods-patterns-reset, all
            issues will be reported regardless the presence of unknown code
 
        --purity
diff --git a/infer/man/man1/infer-full.txt b/infer/man/man1/infer-full.txt
index d98b94f09..fbd98e6ca 100644
--- a/infer/man/man1/infer-full.txt
+++ b/infer/man/man1/infer-full.txt
@@ -1055,8 +1055,8 @@ OPTIONS
            On Java, issues that are found on program paths that contain calls
            to unknown methods (those without implementation) are not reported
            unless all the unknown method names match this pattern. If the
-           empty list is provided or
-           --pulse_report_ignore_unknown_java_methods_patterns-reset, all
+           empty list is provided with
+           --pulse-report-ignore-unknown-java-methods-patterns-reset, all
            issues will be reported regardless the presence of unknown code       
     See also infer-analyze(1).
 
@@ -2264,6 +2264,8 @@ FILES
        leading "--", and values depend on the type of the option:
        - for switches options, the value is a JSON boolean (true or false,
        without quotes)
+       - for non-switches options with no arguments (for instance the
+       undefined option associated with a list option), the value is null
        - for integers, the value is a JSON integer (without quotes)
        - string options have string values
        - path options have string values, and are interpreted relative to the
diff --git a/infer/man/man1/infer.txt b/infer/man/man1/infer.txt
index 7cbdd28f1..61e53367d 100644
--- a/infer/man/man1/infer.txt
+++ b/infer/man/man1/infer.txt
@@ -1055,8 +1055,8 @@ OPTIONS
            On Java, issues that are found on program paths that contain calls
            to unknown methods (those without implementation) are not reported
            unless all the unknown method names match this pattern. If the
-           empty list is provided or
-           --pulse_report_ignore_unknown_java_methods_patterns-reset, all
+           empty list is provided with
+           --pulse-report-ignore-unknown-java-methods-patterns-reset, all
            issues will be reported regardless the presence of unknown code       
     See also infer-analyze(1).
 
@@ -1392,6 +1392,8 @@ FILES
        leading "--", and values depend on the type of the option:
        - for switches options, the value is a JSON boolean (true or false,
        without quotes)
+       - for non-switches options with no arguments (for instance the
+       undefined option associated with a list option), the value is null
        - for integers, the value is a JSON integer (without quotes)
        - string options have string values
        - path options have string values, and are interpreted relative to the
diff --git a/infer/src/base/CommandDoc.ml b/infer/src/base/CommandDoc.ml
index 2ee6737b3..2e0625c88 100644
--- a/infer/src/base/CommandDoc.ml
+++ b/infer/src/base/CommandDoc.ml
@@ -269,6 +269,10 @@ $(b,infer) $(i,[options])|}
       ; `Noblank
       ; `P "- for switches options, the value is a JSON boolean (true or false, without quotes)"
       ; `Noblank
+      ; `P
+          "- for non-switches options with no arguments (for instance the $(,...-reset) option \
+           associated with a list option), the value is null"
+      ; `Noblank
       ; `P "- for integers, the value is a JSON integer (without quotes)"
       ; `Noblank
       ; `P "- string options have string values"
diff --git a/infer/src/base/CommandLineOption.ml b/infer/src/base/CommandLineOption.ml
index d21b50ab0..a13c9eaf9 100644
--- a/infer/src/base/CommandLineOption.ml
+++ b/infer/src/base/CommandLineOption.ml
@@ -338,20 +338,56 @@ type 'a t =
   -> Arg.doc
   -> 'a
 
+let json_expect ~flag ~expected ~inferconfig_dir ~f json =
+  if f json then true
+  else (
+    warnf "WARNING: in %s/.inferconfig for option '%s', use %s (found value '%s' instead).@."
+      inferconfig_dir flag expected
+      (Yojson.Basic.pretty_to_string json) ;
+    false )
+
+
+let json_expect_float ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  json_expect ~flag ~expected:"a floating-point number or an integer" ~inferconfig_dir
+    ~f:(function `Int _ | `Float _ -> true | _ -> false)
+    json
+
+
+let json_expect_int ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  json_expect ~flag ~expected:"an integer" ~inferconfig_dir
+    ~f:(function `Int _ -> true | _ -> false)
+    json
+
+
+let json_expect_null ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  json_expect ~flag ~expected:"the 'null' value" ~inferconfig_dir
+    ~f:(function `Null -> true | _ -> false)
+    json
+
+
+let json_expect_string ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  json_expect ~flag ~expected:"a string" ~inferconfig_dir
+    ~f:(function `String _ -> true | _ -> false)
+    json
+
+
+let float_json_decoder ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  if json_expect_float ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json then [flag; string_of_float (YBU.to_number json)]
+  else []
+
+
 let int_json_decoder ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
-  let int_as_string =
-    match json with
-    | `String s ->
-        warnf "WARNING: in %s/.inferconfig for option '%s', use an integer instead of a string.@."
-          inferconfig_dir flag ;
-        s
-    | json ->
-        string_of_int (YBU.to_int json)
-  in
-  [flag; int_as_string]
+  if json_expect_int ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json then [flag; string_of_int (YBU.to_int json)]
+  else []
+
 
+let null_json_decoder ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  if json_expect_null ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json then [flag] else []
+
+
+let string_json_decoder ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
+  if json_expect_string ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json then [flag; YBU.to_string json] else []
 
-let string_json_decoder ~flag ~inferconfig_dir:_ json = [flag; YBU.to_string json]
 
 let path_json_decoder ~flag ~inferconfig_dir json =
   let abs_path =
@@ -366,7 +402,7 @@ let list_json_decoder json_decoder ~inferconfig_dir json =
 
 
 (* selects "--long" if not empty, or some non-empty "-deprecated" or "-short" *)
-let mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long =
+let mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long =
   if String.is_empty long then
     match short with
     | Some c ->
@@ -382,11 +418,11 @@ let mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long =
 
 let mk_set var value ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "") doc =
   let setter () = var := value in
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   ignore
     (mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default:() ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
        ~default_to_string:(fun () -> "")
-       ~decode_json:(string_json_decoder ~flag)
+       ~decode_json:(null_json_decoder ~flag)
        ~mk_setter:(fun _ _ -> setter ())
        ~mk_spec:(fun _ -> Unit setter))
 
@@ -404,12 +440,11 @@ let reset_doc_opt ~long = Printf.sprintf "Cancel the effect of $(b,%s)." (dashda
 
 let reset_doc_list ~long = Printf.sprintf "Set $(b,%s) to the empty list." (dashdash long)
 
-let mk_option ?(default = None) ?(default_to_string = fun _ -> "") ~f ?(mk_reset = true)
-    ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "string") doc =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+let mk_option ?(default = None) ?(default_to_string = fun _ -> "") ~decode_json ~f
+    ?(mk_reset = true) ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "string") doc =
   let mk () =
     mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc ~default_to_string
-      ~decode_json:(string_json_decoder ~flag)
+      ~decode_json
       ~mk_setter:(fun var str -> var := f str)
       ~mk_spec:(fun set -> String set)
   in
@@ -500,7 +535,7 @@ let mk_bool_group ?(deprecated_no = []) ?(default = false) ?f:(f0 = Fn.id) ?(dep
 
 let mk_int ~default ?(default_to_string = string_of_int) ?(f = Fn.id) ?(deprecated = []) ~long
     ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "int") doc =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc ~default_to_string
     ~mk_setter:(fun var str -> var := f (int_of_string str))
     ~decode_json:(int_json_decoder ~flag)
@@ -510,18 +545,22 @@ let mk_int ~default ?(default_to_string = string_of_int) ?(f = Fn.id) ?(deprecat
 let mk_int_opt ?default ?(default_to_string = Option.value_map ~default:"" ~f:string_of_int)
     ?f:(f0 = Fn.id) ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "int") doc =
   let f s = Some (f0 (int_of_string s)) in
-  mk_option ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ~default_to_string ~f ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
+  mk_option ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ~default_to_string
+    ~decode_json:(int_json_decoder ~flag) ~f ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
 
 
 let mk_float_opt ?default ?(default_to_string = Option.value_map ~default:"" ~f:string_of_float)
     ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "float") doc =
   let f s = Some (float_of_string s) in
-  mk_option ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ~default_to_string ~f ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
+  mk_option ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ~default_to_string
+    ~decode_json:(float_json_decoder ~flag) ~f ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
 
 
 let mk_string ~default ?(default_to_string = Fn.id) ?(f = fun s -> s) ?(deprecated = []) ~long
     ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "string") doc =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc ~default_to_string
     ~mk_setter:(fun var str -> var := f str)
     ~decode_json:(string_json_decoder ~flag)
@@ -531,13 +570,14 @@ let mk_string ~default ?(default_to_string = Fn.id) ?(f = fun s -> s) ?(deprecat
 let mk_string_opt ?default ?(default_to_string = Option.value ~default:"") ?(f = fun s -> s)
     ?mk_reset ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "string") doc =
   let f s = Some (f s) in
-  mk_option ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ~default_to_string ~f ?mk_reset ?parse_mode ?in_help
-    ~meta doc
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
+  mk_option ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ~default_to_string
+    ~decode_json:(string_json_decoder ~flag) ~f ?mk_reset ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
 
 
 let mk_string_list ?(default = []) ?(default_to_string = String.concat ~sep:",") ?(f = fun s -> s)
     ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "string") doc =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   let mk () =
     mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default:(RevList.of_list default) ?parse_mode ?in_help
       ~meta:("+" ^ meta) doc
@@ -558,7 +598,7 @@ let map_to_str map =
 
 let mk_string_map ?(default = String.Map.empty) ?(default_to_string = map_to_str) ?(deprecated = [])
     ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "key=value") doc =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   let split_str str =
     match String.lsplit2 str ~on:'=' with
     | Some a ->
@@ -610,7 +650,7 @@ let mk_path_helper ~setter ~default_to_string ~default ~deprecated ~long ~short
 
 let mk_path ~default ?(default_to_string = Fn.id) ?(f = Fn.id) ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short
     ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "path") =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   mk_path_helper
     ~setter:(fun var x -> var := f x)
     ~decode_json:(path_json_decoder ~flag) ~default_to_string ~default ~deprecated ~long ~short
@@ -620,7 +660,7 @@ let mk_path ~default ?(default_to_string = Fn.id) ?(f = Fn.id) ?(deprecated = []
 let mk_path_opt ?default ?(default_to_string = Option.value ~default:"") ?(deprecated = []) ~long
     ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "path") doc =
   let mk () =
-    let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+    let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
     mk_path_helper
       ~setter:(fun var x -> var := Some x)
       ~decode_json:(path_json_decoder ~flag) ~default_to_string ~default ~deprecated ~long ~short
@@ -632,7 +672,7 @@ let mk_path_opt ?default ?(default_to_string = Option.value ~default:"") ?(depre
 
 let mk_path_list ?(default = []) ?(default_to_string = String.concat ~sep:", ") ?(deprecated = [])
     ~long ?short ?parse_mode ?in_help ?(meta = "path") doc =
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   let mk () =
     mk_path_helper
       ~setter:(fun var x -> var := RevList.cons x !var)
@@ -657,7 +697,7 @@ let mk_symbol ~default ~symbols ~eq ?(f = Fn.id) ?(deprecated = []) ~long ?short
   let of_string str = List.Assoc.find_exn ~equal:String.equal symbols str in
   let to_string sym = List.Assoc.find_exn ~equal:eq sym_to_str sym in
   let meta = Option.value meta ~default:(mk_symbols_meta symbols) in
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
     ~default_to_string:(fun s -> to_string s)
     ~mk_setter:(fun var str -> var := of_string str |> f)
@@ -670,7 +710,7 @@ let mk_symbol_opt ~symbols ?(f = Fn.id) ?(mk_reset = true) ?(deprecated = []) ~l
   let strings = List.map ~f:fst symbols in
   let of_string str = List.Assoc.find_exn ~equal:String.equal symbols str in
   let meta = Option.value meta ~default:(mk_symbols_meta symbols) in
-  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ?short ~long in
+  let flag = mk_flag ~deprecated ~short ~long in
   let mk () =
     mk ~deprecated ~long ?short ~default:None ?parse_mode ?in_help ~meta doc
       ~default_to_string:(fun _ -> "")
diff --git a/infer/src/base/Config.ml b/infer/src/base/Config.ml
index a47e01518..cea841507 100644
--- a/infer/src/base/Config.ml
+++ b/infer/src/base/Config.ml
@@ -2088,8 +2088,8 @@ and pulse_report_ignore_unknown_java_methods_patterns =
     ~in_help:InferCommand.[(Analyze, manual_generic)]
     "On Java, issues that are found on program paths that contain calls to unknown methods (those \
      without implementation) are not reported unless all the unknown method names match this \
-     pattern. If the empty list is provided or \
-     --pulse_report_ignore_unknown_java_methods_patterns-reset, all issues will be reported \
+     pattern. If the empty list is provided with \
+     $(b,--pulse-report-ignore-unknown-java-methods-patterns-reset), all issues will be reported \
      regardless the presence of unknown code"