diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -1999,7 +1999,7 @@ def new(ui, repo, patch, *args, **opts):
     """
     msg = cmdutil.logmessage(opts)
     def getmsg():
-        return ui.edit(msg, ui.username())
+        return ui.edit(msg, opts['user'] or ui.username())
     q = repo.mq
     opts['msg'] = msg
     if opts.get('edit'):
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qnew b/tests/test-mq-qnew
--- a/tests/test-mq-qnew
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qnew
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ runtest() {
     HGUSER= hg qnew -u blue red
     catpatch ../.hg/patches/red
 
+    echo '% qnew -e -u with no username configured'
+    HGUSER= hg qnew -e -u chartreuse fucsia
+    catpatch ../.hg/patches/fucsia
+
     echo '% fail when trying to import a merge'
     hg init merge
     cd merge
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-qnew.out b/tests/test-mq-qnew.out
--- a/tests/test-mq-qnew.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq-qnew.out
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ diff --git a/d/b b/d/b
 % qnew -u with no username configured
 From: blue
 
+% qnew -e -u with no username configured
+From: chartreuse
+
 % fail when trying to import a merge
 adding a
 1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
@@ -101,6 +104,10 @@ diff --git a/d/b b/d/b
 # HG changeset patch
 # Parent 
 # User blue
+% qnew -e -u with no username configured
+# HG changeset patch
+# Parent 
+# User chartreuse
 % fail when trying to import a merge
 adding a
 1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved