diff --git a/mercurial/patch.py b/mercurial/patch.py
--- a/mercurial/patch.py
+++ b/mercurial/patch.py
@@ -1756,6 +1756,8 @@ def trydiff(repo, revs, ctx1, ctx2, modi
                     else:
                         header.append('deleted file mode %s\n' %
                                       gitmode[man1.flags(f)])
+                        if util.binary(to):
+                            dodiff = 'binary'
                 elif not to or util.binary(to):
                     # regular diffs cannot represent empty file deletion
                     losedatafn(f)
diff --git a/tests/test-diff-upgrade.t b/tests/test-diff-upgrade.t
--- a/tests/test-diff-upgrade.t
+++ b/tests/test-diff-upgrade.t
@@ -200,7 +200,11 @@ git=auto: regular diff for regular files
   % git=auto: git diff for rmbinary
   diff --git a/rmbinary b/rmbinary
   deleted file mode 100644
-  Binary file rmbinary has changed
+  index f76dd238ade08917e6712764a16a22005a50573d..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
+  GIT binary patch
+  literal 0
+  Hc$@<O00001
+  
   
   % git=auto: git diff for bintoregular
   diff --git a/bintoregular b/bintoregular
@@ -210,6 +214,7 @@ git=auto: regular diff for regular files
   Uc$`bh%qz(+N=+}#Ni5<5043uE82|tP
   
 
+
 git=warn: regular diff with data loss warnings
 
   $ hg autodiff --git=warn