diff --git a/mercurial/verify.py b/mercurial/verify.py
--- a/mercurial/verify.py
+++ b/mercurial/verify.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def _verify(repo):
     mf = repo.manifest
     lrugetctx = util.lrucachefunc(repo.changectx)
 
-    if not repo.cancopy():
+    if not repo.url().startswith('file:'):
         raise util.Abort(_("cannot verify bundle or remote repos"))
 
     def err(linkrev, msg, filename=None):
diff --git a/tests/test-phases.t b/tests/test-phases.t
--- a/tests/test-phases.t
+++ b/tests/test-phases.t
@@ -549,4 +549,13 @@ test hidden changeset are not cloned as 
   o  0 public A
   
 
+test verify repo containing hidden changesets, which should not abort just
+because repo.cancopy() is False
 
+  $ cd ../initialrepo
+  $ hg verify
+  checking changesets
+  checking manifests
+  crosschecking files in changesets and manifests
+  checking files
+  7 files, 8 changesets, 7 total revisions