diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -241,7 +241,9 @@ class patchheader(object):
                 patchheaderat = self.comments.index('# HG changeset patch')
                 self.comments.insert(patchheaderat + 1, '# Parent  ' + parent)
             except ValueError:
-                pass
+                if not self.plainmode:
+                    tmp = ['# HG changeset patch', '# Parent  ' + parent]
+                    self.comments = tmp + self.comments
         self.parent = parent
 
     def setmessage(self, message):
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-eol.t b/tests/test-mq-eol.t
--- a/tests/test-mq-eol.t
+++ b/tests/test-mq-eol.t
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ force LF
   now at: eol.diff
   $ hg qrefresh
   $ python ../cateol.py .hg/patches/eol.diff
+  # HG changeset patch<LF>
+  # Parent  0d0bf99a8b7a3842c6f8ef09e34f69156c4bd9d0<LF>
   test message<LF>
   <LF>
   diff -r 0d0bf99a8b7a a<LF>
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qpush-fail.t b/tests/test-mq-qpush-fail.t
--- a/tests/test-mq-qpush-fail.t
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qpush-fail.t
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ test qpush on empty series
   $ echo bar > bar
   $ hg add bar
   $ hg qrefresh -m 'patch 2'
-  $ hg qnew --config 'mq.plain=true' bad-patch
+  $ hg qnew --config 'mq.plain=true' -U bad-patch
   $ echo >> foo
   $ hg qrefresh
   $ hg qpop -a