diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -2311,6 +2311,9 @@ def rename(ui, repo, patch, name=None, *
         q.applied[info[0]] = statusentry(info[1], name)
     q.applied_dirty = 1
 
+    destdir = os.path.dirname(absdest)
+    if not os.path.isdir(destdir):
+        os.makedirs(destdir)
     util.rename(q.join(patch), absdest)
     r = q.qrepo()
     if r:
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qnew b/tests/test-mq-qnew
--- a/tests/test-mq-qnew
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qnew
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ runtest() {
 
     hg qinit -c
 
+    echo '% qnew with name containing slash'
+    hg qnew foo/bar.patch
+    hg qseries
+    hg qpop
+    hg qdelete foo/bar.patch
+
     echo '% qnew with uncommitted changes'
     echo a > somefile
     hg add somefile
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qnew.out b/tests/test-mq-qnew.out
--- a/tests/test-mq-qnew.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qnew.out
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ abort: ".hgignore" cannot be used as the
 abort: ".mqfoo" cannot be used as the name of a patch
 abort: "foo#bar" cannot be used as the name of a patch
 abort: "foo:bar" cannot be used as the name of a patch
+% qnew with name containing slash
+foo/bar.patch
+popping foo/bar.patch
+patch queue now empty
 % qnew with uncommitted changes
 uncommitted.patch
 % qnew implies add
@@ -58,6 +62,10 @@ abort: ".hgignore" cannot be used as the
 abort: ".mqfoo" cannot be used as the name of a patch
 abort: "foo#bar" cannot be used as the name of a patch
 abort: "foo:bar" cannot be used as the name of a patch
+% qnew with name containing slash
+foo/bar.patch
+popping foo/bar.patch
+patch queue now empty
 % qnew with uncommitted changes
 uncommitted.patch
 % qnew implies add
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qrename b/tests/test-mq-qrename
--- a/tests/test-mq-qrename
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qrename
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ ls .hg/patches/bar
 hg qrename bar/renamed baz
 hg qseries
 ls .hg/patches/baz
+hg qrename baz new/dir
+hg qseries
+ls .hg/patches/new/dir
 cd ..
 
 echo % test patch being renamed before committed
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qrename.out b/tests/test-mq-qrename.out
--- a/tests/test-mq-qrename.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qrename.out
@@ -5,4 +5,6 @@ bar/renamed
 renamed
 baz
 .hg/patches/baz
+new/dir
+.hg/patches/new/dir
 % test patch being renamed before committed