diff --git a/mercurial/help/config.txt b/mercurial/help/config.txt
--- a/mercurial/help/config.txt
+++ b/mercurial/help/config.txt
@@ -945,6 +945,15 @@ information about working with phases.
     Phase of newly-created commits.
     Default: draft
 
+``checksubrepos``
+
+    Check phase of state in each subrepositories, allowed values are
+    "ignore", "follow" or "abort". For settings other than "ignore",
+    the phase of each subrepository commit is checked before committing
+    in the parent repository. If there is any greater phase than the parent
+    ("secret" vs "draft", for example), the commit is either aborted
+    with "abort" or the higher phase is used with "follow". Default: "follow".
+
 ``profiling``
 -------------
 
diff --git a/mercurial/localrepo.py b/mercurial/localrepo.py
--- a/mercurial/localrepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/localrepo.py
@@ -1382,7 +1382,7 @@ class localrepository(object):
                       parent2=xp2, pending=p)
             self.changelog.finalize(trp)
             # set the new commit is proper phase
-            targetphase = phases.newcommitphase(self.ui)
+            targetphase = subrepo.newcommitphase(self.ui, ctx)
             if targetphase:
                 # retract boundary do not alter parent changeset.
                 # if a parent have higher the resulting phase will
diff --git a/mercurial/subrepo.py b/mercurial/subrepo.py
--- a/mercurial/subrepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/subrepo.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import xml.dom.minidom
 import stat, subprocess, tarfile
 from i18n import _
 import config, util, node, error, cmdutil, bookmarks, match as matchmod
+import phases
 import pathutil
 hg = None
 propertycache = util.propertycache
@@ -351,6 +352,37 @@ def subrepo(ctx, path):
         raise util.Abort(_('unknown subrepo type %s') % state[2])
     return types[state[2]](ctx, path, state[:2])
 
+def newcommitphase(ui, ctx):
+    commitphase = phases.newcommitphase(ui)
+    substate = getattr(ctx, "substate", None)
+    if not substate:
+        return commitphase
+    check = ui.config('phases', 'checksubrepos', 'follow')
+    if check not in ('ignore', 'follow', 'abort'):
+        raise util.Abort(_('invalid phases.checksubrepos configuration: %s')
+                         % (check))
+    if check == 'ignore':
+        return commitphase
+    maxphase = phases.public
+    maxsub = None
+    for s in sorted(substate):
+        sub = ctx.sub(s)
+        subphase = sub.phase(substate[s][1])
+        if maxphase < subphase:
+            maxphase = subphase
+            maxsub = s
+    if commitphase < maxphase:
+        if check == 'abort':
+            raise util.Abort(_("can't commit in %s phase"
+                               " conflicting %s from subrepository %s") %
+                             (phases.phasenames[commitphase],
+                              phases.phasenames[maxphase], maxsub))
+        ui.warn(_("warning: changes are committed in"
+                  " %s phase from subrepository %s\n") %
+                (phases.phasenames[maxphase], maxsub))
+        return maxphase
+    return commitphase
+
 # subrepo classes need to implement the following abstract class:
 
 class abstractsubrepo(object):
@@ -385,6 +417,11 @@ class abstractsubrepo(object):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def phase(self, state):
+        """returns phase of specified state in the subrepository.
+        """
+        return phases.public
+
     def remove(self):
         """remove the subrepo
 
@@ -652,6 +689,10 @@ class hgsubrepo(abstractsubrepo):
         return node.hex(n)
 
     @annotatesubrepoerror
+    def phase(self, state):
+        return self._repo[state].phase()
+
+    @annotatesubrepoerror
     def remove(self):
         # we can't fully delete the repository as it may contain
         # local-only history
diff --git a/tests/test-subrepo.t b/tests/test-subrepo.t
--- a/tests/test-subrepo.t
+++ b/tests/test-subrepo.t
@@ -1232,4 +1232,69 @@ Courtesy phases synchronisation to publi
   searching for changes
   no changes found
   [1]
+  $ cd ..
 
+Test phase choice for newly created commit with "phases.subrepochecks"
+configuration
+
+  $ cd t
+  $ hg update -q -r 12
+
+  $ cat >> s/ss/.hg/hgrc <<EOF
+  > [phases]
+  > new-commit = secret
+  > EOF
+  $ cat >> s/.hg/hgrc <<EOF
+  > [phases]
+  > new-commit = draft
+  > EOF
+  $ echo phasecheck1 >> s/ss/a
+  $ hg -R s commit -S --config phases.checksubrepos=abort -m phasecheck1
+  committing subrepository ss
+  transaction abort!
+  rollback completed
+  abort: can't commit in draft phase conflicting secret from subrepository ss
+  [255]
+  $ echo phasecheck2 >> s/ss/a
+  $ hg -R s commit -S --config phases.checksubrepos=ignore -m phasecheck2
+  committing subrepository ss
+  $ hg -R s/ss phase tip
+  3: secret
+  $ hg -R s phase tip
+  6: draft
+  $ echo phasecheck3 >> s/ss/a
+  $ hg -R s commit -S -m phasecheck3
+  committing subrepository ss
+  warning: changes are committed in secret phase from subrepository ss
+  $ hg -R s/ss phase tip
+  4: secret
+  $ hg -R s phase tip
+  7: secret
+
+  $ cat >> t/.hg/hgrc <<EOF
+  > [phases]
+  > new-commit = draft
+  > EOF
+  $ cat >> .hg/hgrc <<EOF
+  > [phases]
+  > new-commit = public
+  > EOF
+  $ echo phasecheck4 >>   s/ss/a
+  $ echo phasecheck4 >>   t/t
+  $ hg commit -S -m phasecheck4
+  committing subrepository s
+  committing subrepository s/ss
+  warning: changes are committed in secret phase from subrepository ss
+  committing subrepository t
+  warning: changes are committed in secret phase from subrepository s
+  created new head
+  $ hg -R s/ss phase tip
+  5: secret
+  $ hg -R s phase tip
+  8: secret
+  $ hg -R t phase tip
+  6: draft
+  $ hg phase tip
+  15: secret
+
+  $ cd ..