diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ def between(repo, old, new, keep):
     ctxs = list(repo.set('%n::%n', old, new))
     if ctxs and not keep:
         if (not obsolete._enabled and
-            repo.revs('(%ld::) - (%ld + hidden())', ctxs, ctxs)):
+            repo.revs('(%ld::) - (%ld)', ctxs, ctxs)):
             raise util.Abort(_('cannot edit history that would orphan nodes'))
         root = ctxs[0] # list is already sorted by repo.set
         if not root.phase():