diff --git a/contrib/buildrpm b/contrib/buildrpm
--- a/contrib/buildrpm
+++ b/contrib/buildrpm
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 BUILD=1
 RPMBUILDDIR="$PWD/rpmbuild"
+export HGPLAIN=
+
 while [ "$1" ]; do
     case "$1" in
     --prepare )