diff --git a/mercurial/posix.py b/mercurial/posix.py
--- a/mercurial/posix.py
+++ b/mercurial/posix.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ samestat = os.path.samestat
 oslink = os.link
 unlink = os.unlink
 rename = os.rename
+removedirs = os.removedirs
 expandglobs = False
 
 umask = os.umask(0)
diff --git a/mercurial/util.py b/mercurial/util.py
--- a/mercurial/util.py
+++ b/mercurial/util.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ posixfile = platform.posixfile
 quotecommand = platform.quotecommand
 readpipe = platform.readpipe
 rename = platform.rename
+removedirs = platform.removedirs
 samedevice = platform.samedevice
 samefile = platform.samefile
 samestat = platform.samestat
diff --git a/mercurial/windows.py b/mercurial/windows.py
--- a/mercurial/windows.py
+++ b/mercurial/windows.py
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def groupname(gid=None):
     If gid is None, return the name of the current group."""
     return None
 
-def _removedirs(name):
+def removedirs(name):
     """special version of os.removedirs that does not remove symlinked
     directories or junction points if they actually contain files"""
     if osutil.listdir(name):
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ def unlinkpath(f, ignoremissing=False):
             raise
     # try removing directories that might now be empty
     try:
-        _removedirs(os.path.dirname(f))
+        removedirs(os.path.dirname(f))
     except OSError:
         pass