diff --git a/mercurial/revset.py b/mercurial/revset.py
--- a/mercurial/revset.py
+++ b/mercurial/revset.py
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ def roots(repo, subset, x):
 def outgoing(repo, subset, x):
     import hg # avoid start-up nasties
     l = getargs(x, 0, 1, _("outgoing wants a repository path"))
-    dest = l[1:] or ''
+    dest = l and getstring(l[0], _("outgoing wants a repository path")) or ''
     dest = repo.ui.expandpath(dest or 'default-push', dest or 'default')
     dest, branches = hg.parseurl(dest)
     other = hg.repository(hg.remoteui(repo, {}), dest)
diff --git a/tests/test-revset b/tests/test-revset
--- a/tests/test-revset
+++ b/tests/test-revset
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ hg ci -Aqm9
 
 hg tag -r6 1.0
 
+hg clone --quiet -U -r 7 . ../remote1
+hg clone --quiet -U -r 8 . ../remote2
+echo "[paths]" >> .hg/hgrc
+echo "default = ../remote1" >> .hg/hgrc
+
 # names that should work without quoting
 try a
 try b-a
@@ -112,6 +117,9 @@ log 'limit(head(), 1)'
 log 'max(contains(a))'
 log 'merge()'
 log 'modifies(b)'
+log 'outgoing()'
+log 'outgoing("../remote1")'
+log 'outgoing("../remote2")'
 log 'p1(merge())'
 log 'p2(merge())'
 log 'parents(merge())'
diff --git a/tests/test-revset.out b/tests/test-revset.out
--- a/tests/test-revset.out
+++ b/tests/test-revset.out
@@ -156,6 +156,18 @@ 5
 6
 % log 'modifies(b)'
 4
+% log 'outgoing()'
+8
+9
+% log 'outgoing("../remote1")'
+8
+9
+% log 'outgoing("../remote2")'
+3
+5
+6
+7
+9
 % log 'p1(merge())'
 5
 % log 'p2(merge())'