diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -2418,6 +2418,18 @@ def strip(ui, repo, rev, **opts):
     elif rev not in (cl.ancestor(p[0], rev), cl.ancestor(p[1], rev)):
         update = False
 
+    q = repo.mq
+    if q.applied:
+        if rev == cl.ancestor(repo.lookup('qtip'), rev):
+            q.applied_dirty = True
+            start = 0
+            end = len(q.applied)
+            applied_list = [i.node for i in q.applied]
+            if rev in applied_list:
+                start = applied_list.index(rev)
+            del q.applied[start:end]
+            q.save_dirty()
+
     repo.mq.strip(repo, rev, backup=backup, update=update, force=opts['force'])
     return 0
 
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-strip b/tests/test-mq-strip
--- a/tests/test-mq-strip
+++ b/tests/test-mq-strip
@@ -53,3 +53,19 @@ hg parents
 hg strip 4 2>&1 | hidebackup
 echo % after strip of merge parent
 hg parents
+
+#strip of applied mq should cleanup status file
+hg up -C 3
+echo fooagain >> bar
+hg ci -mf
+hg qimport -r tip:2
+echo % applied patches before strip
+hg qapplied
+echo % stripping revision in queue
+hg strip 3 | hidebackup
+echo % applied patches after stripping rev in queue
+hg qapplied
+echo % stripping ancestor of queue
+hg strip 1 | hidebackup
+echo % applied patches after stripping ancestor of queue
+hg qapplied
diff --git a/tests/test-mq-strip.out b/tests/test-mq-strip.out
--- a/tests/test-mq-strip.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq-strip.out
@@ -165,3 +165,17 @@ user:        test
 date:        Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
 summary:     b
 
+1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+% applied patches before strip
+2.diff
+3.diff
+4.diff
+% stripping revision in queue
+1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+saved backup bundle to 
+% applied patches after stripping rev in queue
+2.diff
+% stripping ancestor of queue
+1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+saved backup bundle to 
+% applied patches after stripping ancestor of queue
diff --git a/tests/test-mq.out b/tests/test-mq.out
--- a/tests/test-mq.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq.out
@@ -400,15 +400,13 @@ 2 bar qtip tip
 popping bar
 now at: foo
 changeset:   0:cb9a9f314b8b
-mq status file refers to unknown node
 tag:         tip
 user:        test
 date:        Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
 summary:     a
 
-mq status file refers to unknown node
 default                        0:cb9a9f314b8b
-abort: trying to pop unknown node
+no patches applied
 new file
 
 diff --git a/new b/new