diff --git a/mercurial/dirstate.py b/mercurial/dirstate.py
--- a/mercurial/dirstate.py
+++ b/mercurial/dirstate.py
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class dirstate(object):
         i, j = 0, 0
         while i < len(files) and j < len(subrepos):
             subpath = subrepos[j] + "/"
-            if not files[i].startswith(subpath):
+            if files[i] < subpath:
                 i += 1
                 continue
             while files and files[i].startswith(subpath):
diff --git a/tests/test-subrepo.t b/tests/test-subrepo.t
--- a/tests/test-subrepo.t
+++ b/tests/test-subrepo.t
@@ -656,3 +656,22 @@ Try to push from the other side
   adding manifests
   adding file changes
   added 1 changesets with 1 changes to 1 files
+
+Check status of files when none of them belong to the first
+subrepository:
+
+  $ hg init subrepo-status
+  $ cd subrepo-status
+  $ hg init subrepo-1
+  $ hg init subrepo-2
+  $ cd subrepo-2
+  $ touch file
+  $ hg add file
+  $ cd ..
+  $ echo subrepo-1 = subrepo-1 > .hgsub
+  $ echo subrepo-2 = subrepo-2 >> .hgsub
+  $ hg add .hgsub
+  $ hg ci -m 'Added subrepos'
+  committing subrepository subrepo-1
+  committing subrepository subrepo-2
+  $ hg st subrepo-2/file