diff --git a/tests/test-merge-subrepos.t b/tests/test-merge-subrepos.t
--- a/tests/test-merge-subrepos.t
+++ b/tests/test-merge-subrepos.t
@@ -23,3 +23,97 @@ Should fail, since there are added files
   $ hg merge
   abort: uncommitted changes in subrepository 'subrepo'
   [255]
+
+Deleted files trigger a '+' marker in top level repos.  Deleted files are also
+noticed by `update --check` in the top level repo.
+
+  $ hg ci -Sqm 'add b'
+  $ rm a
+  $ hg id
+  cb66ec850af7+ tip
+  $ hg sum
+  parent: 3:cb66ec850af7 tip
+   add b
+  branch: default
+  commit: 1 deleted (clean)
+  update: 1 new changesets, 2 branch heads (merge)
+  phases: 4 draft
+
+  $ hg up --check -r '.^'
+  abort: uncommitted changes
+  [255]
+  $ hg st -S
+  ! a
+  $ hg up -Cq .
+
+Test that dirty is consistent through subrepos
+
+  $ rm subrepo/b
+
+TODO: a deleted subrepo file should be flagged as dirty, like the top level repo
+
+  $ hg id
+  cb66ec850af7 tip
+
+TODO: a deleted file should be listed as such, like the top level repo
+
+  $ hg sum
+  parent: 3:cb66ec850af7 tip
+   add b
+  branch: default
+  commit: (clean)
+  update: 1 new changesets, 2 branch heads (merge)
+  phases: 4 draft
+
+Modified subrepo files are noticed by `update --check` and `summary`
+
+  $ echo mod > subrepo/b
+  $ hg st -S
+  M subrepo/b
+
+  $ hg up -r '.^' --check
+  abort: uncommitted changes in subrepository 'subrepo'
+  [255]
+
+  $ hg sum
+  parent: 3:cb66ec850af7 tip
+   add b
+  branch: default
+  commit: 1 subrepos
+  update: 1 new changesets, 2 branch heads (merge)
+  phases: 4 draft
+
+TODO: why is -R needed here?  If it's because the subrepo is treated as a
+discrete unit, then this should probably warn or something.
+  $ hg revert -R subrepo --no-backup subrepo/b -r .
+
+  $ rm subrepo/b
+  $ hg st -S
+  ! subrepo/b
+
+TODO: --check should notice a subrepo with a missing file.  It already notices
+a modified file.
+
+  $ hg up -r '.^' --check
+  1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+
+TODO: update without --clean shouldn't restore a deleted subrepo file, since it
+doesn't restore a deleted top level repo file.
+  $ hg st -S
+
+  $ hg bookmark -r tip @other
+  $ echo xyz > subrepo/c
+  $ hg ci -SAm 'add c'
+  adding subrepo/c
+  committing subrepository subrepo
+  created new head
+  $ rm subrepo/c
+
+Merge sees deleted subrepo files as an uncommitted change
+
+  $ hg merge @other
+   subrepository subrepo diverged (local revision: 2b4750dcc93f, remote revision: cde40f86152f)
+  (M)erge, keep (l)ocal [working copy] or keep (r)emote [merge rev]? m
+  abort: uncommitted changes (in subrepo subrepo)
+  (use 'hg status' to list changes)
+  [255]