diff --git a/tests/test-newbranch b/tests/test-newbranch
--- a/tests/test-newbranch
+++ b/tests/test-newbranch
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ hg branch
 hg ci -m "add branch name" -d "1000000 0"
 hg branch bar
 hg ci -m "change branch name" -d "1000000 0"
+echo % branch shadowing
 hg branch ""
+hg branch -f ''
 hg ci -m "clear branch name" -d "1000000 0"
 
 hg co foo
diff --git a/tests/test-newbranch.out b/tests/test-newbranch.out
--- a/tests/test-newbranch.out
+++ b/tests/test-newbranch.out
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 foo
+% branch shadowing
+abort: a branch of the same name already exists (use --force to override)
 0 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 foo
 0 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved