diff --git a/hgext/show.py b/hgext/show.py
--- a/hgext/show.py
+++ b/hgext/show.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def showstack(ui, repo, displayer):
                             'working directory'))
 
     if wdirctx.phase() == phases.public:
-        ui.write(_('(empty stack; working directory is a published '
+        ui.write(_('(empty stack; working directory parent is a published '
                    'changeset)\n'))
         return
 
diff --git a/tests/test-show-stack.t b/tests/test-show-stack.t
--- a/tests/test-show-stack.t
+++ b/tests/test-show-stack.t
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ working dir on public changeset should d
 
   $ hg -q up 1
   $ hg show stack
-  (empty stack; working directory is a published changeset)
+  (empty stack; working directory parent is a published changeset)
 
 Branch point in descendants displayed at top of graph