diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -176,11 +176,11 @@ class queue:
         if exactneg:
             return False, exactneg[0]
         pos = [g for g in patchguards if g[0] == '+']
-        exactpos = [g for g in pos if g[1:] in guards]
+        nonpos = [g for g in pos if g[1:] not in guards]
         if pos:
-            if exactpos:
-                return True, exactpos[0]
-            return False, ''
+            if not nonpos:
+                return True, ''
+            return False, nonpos
         return True, ''
 
     def explain_pushable(self, idx, all_patches=False):
@@ -201,9 +201,9 @@ class queue:
                         write(_('allowing %s - guarded by %r\n') %
                               (self.series[idx], why))
             if not pushable:
-                if why and why[0] in '-+':
+                if why:
                     write(_('skipping %s - guarded by %r\n') %
-                          (self.series[idx], why))
+                          (self.series[idx], ' '.join(why)))
                 else:
                     write(_('skipping %s - no matching guards\n') %
                           self.series[idx])
@@ -1740,7 +1740,8 @@ def select(ui, repo, *args, **opts):
 
     this sets "stable" guard.  mq will skip foo.patch (because it has
     nagative match) but push bar.patch (because it has posative
-    match).
+    match).  patch is pushed only if all posative guards match and no
+    nagative guards match.
 
     with no arguments, default is to print current active guards.
     with arguments, set active guards as given.
@@ -1760,9 +1761,8 @@ def select(ui, repo, *args, **opts):
         if not args:
             ui.status(_('guards deactivated\n'))
         if q.series:
-            pushable = [p for p in q.unapplied(repo) if q.pushable(p[0])[0]]
             ui.status(_('%d of %d unapplied patches active\n') %
-                      (len(pushable), len(q.series)))
+                      (len(q.unapplied(repo)), len(q.series)))
     elif opts['series']:
         guards = {}
         noguards = 0
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-guards b/tests/test-mq-guards
--- a/tests/test-mq-guards
+++ b/tests/test-mq-guards
@@ -59,4 +59,26 @@ hg qpush -a
 
 hg qpop -a
 hg qselect -n
+echo % should push all
 hg qpush -a
+
+hg qpop -a
+hg qguard a.patch +1 +2
+hg qselect 1
+echo % should push b.patch
+hg qpush
+hg qpop -a
+
+hg qselect 2
+hg qpush
+hg qpop -a
+
+hg qselect 1 2
+echo % should push a.patch
+hg qpush
+hg qpop -a
+
+hg qguard a.patch +1 +2 -3
+hg qselect 1 2 3
+echo % should push b.patch
+hg qpush
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-guards.out b/tests/test-mq-guards.out
--- a/tests/test-mq-guards.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq-guards.out
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Now at: a.patch
 c.patch: -a
 % should skip c.patch
 applying b.patch
-skipping c.patch - guarded by '-a'
+skipping c.patch - guarded by '- a'
 Now at: b.patch
 % should push c.patch
 applying c.patch
@@ -29,6 +29,26 @@ Now at: c.patch
 Patch queue now empty
 guards deactivated
 2 of 3 unapplied patches active
+% should push all
 applying b.patch
 applying c.patch
 Now at: c.patch
+Patch queue now empty
+2 of 3 unapplied patches active
+% should push b.patch
+applying b.patch
+Now at: b.patch
+Patch queue now empty
+2 of 3 unapplied patches active
+applying b.patch
+Now at: b.patch
+Patch queue now empty
+3 of 3 unapplied patches active
+% should push a.patch
+applying a.patch
+Now at: a.patch
+Patch queue now empty
+2 of 3 unapplied patches active
+% should push b.patch
+applying b.patch
+Now at: b.patch