diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -2675,6 +2675,12 @@ def qqueue(ui, repo, name=None, **opts):
         fh.write('%s\n' % (name,))
         fh.close()
 
+    def _queuedir(name):
+        if name == 'patches':
+            return repo.join('patches')
+        else:
+            return repo.join('patches-' + name)
+
     def _validname(name):
         for n in name:
             if n in ':\\/.':
@@ -2704,6 +2710,31 @@ def qqueue(ui, repo, name=None, **opts):
             _addqueue(_defaultqueue)
         _addqueue(name)
         _setactive(name)
+    elif opts.get('rename'):
+        current = _getcurrent()
+        if name == current:
+            raise util.Abort(_('can\'t rename "%s" to its current name') % name)
+        if name in existing:
+            raise util.Abort(_('queue "%s" already exists') % name)
+
+        olddir = _queuedir(current)
+        newdir = _queuedir(name)
+
+        if os.path.exists(newdir):
+            raise util.Abort(_('non-queue directory "%s" already exists') %
+                    newdir)
+
+        fh = repo.opener('patches.queues.new', 'w')
+        for queue in existing:
+            if queue == current:
+                fh.write('%s\n' % (name,))
+                if os.path.exists(olddir):
+                    util.rename(olddir, newdir)
+            else:
+                fh.write('%s\n' % (queue,))
+        fh.close()
+        util.rename(repo.join('patches.queues.new'), repo.join(_allqueues))
+        _setactivenocheck(name)
     elif opts.get('delete'):
         if name not in existing:
             raise util.Abort(_('cannot delete queue that does not exist'))
@@ -3045,6 +3076,7 @@ cmdtable = {
          [
              ('l', 'list', False, _('list all available queues')),
              ('c', 'create', False, _('create new queue')),
+             ('', 'rename', False, _('rename active queue')),
              ('', 'delete', False, _('delete reference to queue')),
          ],
          _('[OPTION] [QUEUE]')),
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qqueue b/tests/test-mq-qqueue
--- a/tests/test-mq-qqueue
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qqueue
@@ -35,6 +35,25 @@ echo %% fail creating queue with already
 hg qqueue --create foo
 hg qqueue
 
+echo %% create new queue for rename
+hg qqueue --create bar
+hg qqueue
+
+echo %% rename queue, same name
+hg qqueue --rename bar
+
+echo %% rename queue to existing
+hg qqueue --rename foo
+
+echo %% rename queue
+hg qqueue --rename buz
+hg qqueue
+
+echo %% switch back to previous queue
+hg qqueue foo
+hg qqueue --delete buz
+hg qqueue
+
 echo %% unapplied patches
 hg qun
 echo c > a
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qqueue.out b/tests/test-mq-qqueue.out
--- a/tests/test-mq-qqueue.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qqueue.out
@@ -19,6 +19,21 @@ patches
 abort: queue "foo" already exists
 foo (active)
 patches
+%% create new queue for rename
+bar (active)
+foo
+patches
+%% rename queue, same name
+abort: can't rename "bar" to its current name
+%% rename queue to existing
+abort: queue "foo" already exists
+%% rename queue
+buz (active)
+foo
+patches
+%% switch back to previous queue
+foo (active)
+patches
 %% unapplied patches
 %% fail switching back
 abort: patches applied - cannot set new queue active