diff --git a/mercurial/revset.py b/mercurial/revset.py
--- a/mercurial/revset.py
+++ b/mercurial/revset.py
@@ -1755,6 +1755,49 @@ def sort(repo, subset, x):
     l.sort()
     return baseset([e[-1] for e in l])
 
+def subrepo(repo, subset, x):
+    """``subrepo([pattern])``
+    Changesets that add, modify or remove the given subrepo.  If no subrepo
+    pattern is named, any subrepo changes are returned.
+    """
+    # i18n: "subrepo" is a keyword
+    args = getargs(x, 0, 1, _('subrepo takes at most one argument'))
+    if len(args) != 0:
+        pat = getstring(args[0], _("subrepo requires a pattern"))
+
+    m = matchmod.exact(repo.root, repo.root, ['.hgsubstate'])
+
+    def submatches(names):
+        k, p, m = _stringmatcher(pat)
+        for name in names:
+            if m(name):
+                yield name
+
+    def matches(x):
+        c = repo[x]
+        s = repo.status(c.p1().node(), c.node(), match=m)
+
+        if len(args) == 0:
+            return s.added or s.modified or s.removed
+
+        if s.added:
+            return util.any(submatches(c.substate.keys()))
+
+        if s.modified:
+            subs = set(c.p1().substate.keys())
+            subs.update(c.substate.keys())
+
+            for path in submatches(subs):
+                if c.p1().substate.get(path) != c.substate.get(path):
+                    return True
+
+        if s.removed:
+            return util.any(submatches(c.p1().substate.keys()))
+
+        return False
+
+    return subset.filter(matches)
+
 def _stringmatcher(pattern):
     """
     accepts a string, possibly starting with 're:' or 'literal:' prefix.
@@ -1952,6 +1995,7 @@ symbols = {
     "roots": roots,
     "sort": sort,
     "secret": secret,
+    "subrepo": subrepo,
     "matching": matching,
     "tag": tag,
     "tagged": tagged,
diff --git a/tests/test-subrepo-deep-nested-change.t b/tests/test-subrepo-deep-nested-change.t
--- a/tests/test-subrepo-deep-nested-change.t
+++ b/tests/test-subrepo-deep-nested-change.t
@@ -458,4 +458,85 @@ Test a directory commit with a changed l
   R a.dat
   R foo/bar/abc
 
+
+  $ echo foo > main
+  $ hg ci -m "mod parent only"
+  $ hg init sub3
+  $ echo "sub3 = sub3" >> .hgsub
+  $ echo xyz > sub3/a.txt
+  $ hg add sub3/a.txt
+  $ hg ci -Sm "add sub3"
+  committing subrepository sub3
+  $ cat .hgsub | grep -v sub3 > .hgsub1
+  $ mv .hgsub1 .hgsub
+  $ hg ci -m "remove sub3"
+
+  $ hg log -r "subrepo()" --style compact
+  0   7f491f53a367   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    main import
+  
+  1   ffe6649062fe   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    deep nested modif should trigger a commit
+  
+  2   9bb10eebee29   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add test.txt
+  
+  3   7c64f035294f   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add large files
+  
+  4   f734a59e2e35   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    forget testing
+  
+  11   9685a22af5db   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add sub3
+  
+  12[tip]   2e0485b475b9   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    remove sub3
+  
+  $ hg log -r "subrepo('sub3')" --style compact
+  11   9685a22af5db   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add sub3
+  
+  12[tip]   2e0485b475b9   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    remove sub3
+  
+  $ hg log -r "subrepo('bogus')" --style compact
+
+
+Test .hgsubstate in the R state
+
+  $ hg rm .hgsub .hgsubstate
+  $ hg ci -m 'trash subrepo tracking'
+
+  $ hg log -r "subrepo('re:sub\d+')" --style compact
+  0   7f491f53a367   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    main import
+  
+  1   ffe6649062fe   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    deep nested modif should trigger a commit
+  
+  2   9bb10eebee29   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add test.txt
+  
+  3   7c64f035294f   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add large files
+  
+  4   f734a59e2e35   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    forget testing
+  
+  11   9685a22af5db   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    add sub3
+  
+  12   2e0485b475b9   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    remove sub3
+  
+  13[tip]   a68b2c361653   1970-01-01 00:00 +0000   test
+    trash subrepo tracking
+  
+
+Restore the trashed subrepo tracking
+
+  $ hg rollback -q
+  $ hg update -Cq .
+
   $ cd ..