diff --git a/src/lint/linter/ArcanistCppcheckLinter.php b/src/lint/linter/ArcanistCppcheckLinter.php
--- a/src/lint/linter/ArcanistCppcheckLinter.php
+++ b/src/lint/linter/ArcanistCppcheckLinter.php
@@ -86,19 +86,8 @@
         $message->setName($error->getAttribute('id'));
         $message->setDescription($error->getAttribute('msg'));
 
-        switch ($error->getAttribute('severity')) {
-          case 'error':
-            $message->setSeverity(ArcanistLintSeverity::SEVERITY_ERROR);
-            break;
-
-          default:
-            if ($error->getAttribute('inconclusive')) {
-              $message->setSeverity(ArcanistLintSeverity::SEVERITY_ADVICE);
-            } else {
-              $message->setSeverity(ArcanistLintSeverity::SEVERITY_WARNING);
-            }
-            break;
-        }
+        $severity = $error->getAttribute('severity');
+        $message->setSeverity($this->getLintMessageSeverity($severity));
 
         $messages[] = $message;
       }
@@ -107,4 +96,37 @@
     return $messages;
   }
 
+  protected function getDefaultMessageSeverity($code) {
+    switch ($code) {
+      case 'error':
+        return ArcanistLintSeverity::SEVERITY_ERROR;
+        break;
+      case 'warning':
+        return ArcanistLintSeverity::SEVERITY_WARNING;
+        break;
+      case 'performance':
+      case 'style':
+      case 'portability':
+      case 'information':
+      case 'debug':
+      default:
+        return ArcanistLintSeverity::SEVERITY_ADVICE;
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  protected function getLintCodeFromLinterConfigurationKey($code) {
+    if (!preg_match('@^[a-z_]+$@', $code)) {
+      throw new Exception(
+        pht(
+          'Unrecognized severity code "%s". Expected a valid cppcheck '.
+          'severity code like "%s" or "%s".',
+          $code,
+          'performance',
+          'warning'));
+    }
+
+    return $code;
+  }
+
 }