diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -829,6 +829,11 @@ def histedit(ui, repo, *freeargs, **opts
         state.wlock = repo.wlock()
         state.lock = repo.lock()
         _histedit(ui, repo, state, *freeargs, **opts)
+    except error.Abort:
+        if repo.vfs.exists('histedit-last-edit.txt'):
+            ui.warn(_('warning: histedit rules saved '
+                      'to: .hg/histedit-last-edit.txt\n'))
+        raise
     finally:
         release(state.lock, state.wlock)
 
@@ -957,6 +962,8 @@ def _histedit(ui, repo, state, *freeargs
         cmdutil.checkunfinished(repo)
         cmdutil.bailifchanged(repo)
 
+        if repo.vfs.exists('histedit-last-edit.txt'):
+            repo.vfs.unlink('histedit-last-edit.txt')
         topmost, empty = repo.dirstate.parents()
         if outg:
             if freeargs:
diff --git a/tests/test-histedit-edit.t b/tests/test-histedit-edit.t
--- a/tests/test-histedit-edit.t
+++ b/tests/test-histedit-edit.t
@@ -460,8 +460,24 @@ Attempting to fold a change into a publi
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
   reverting a
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 1 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+  warning: histedit rules saved to: .hg/histedit-last-edit.txt
   abort: cannot fold into public change 18aa70c8ad22
   [255]
+  $ cat .hg/histedit-last-edit.txt
+  fold 0012be4a27ea 2 extend a
+  
+  # Edit history between 0012be4a27ea and 0012be4a27ea
+  #
+  # Commits are listed from least to most recent
+  #
+  # Commands:
+  #  p, fold = use commit
+  #  e, edit = use commit, but stop for amending
+  #  f, fold = use commit, but combine it with the one above
+  #  r, roll = like fold, but discard this commit's description
+  #  d, drop = remove commit from history
+  #  m, mess = edit commit message without changing commit content
+  #
 TODO: this abort shouldn't be required, but it is for now to leave the repo in
 a clean state.
   $ hg histedit --abort