diff --git a/mercurial/crecord.py b/mercurial/crecord.py
--- a/mercurial/crecord.py
+++ b/mercurial/crecord.py
@@ -428,6 +428,8 @@ class uihunk(patchnode):
 def filterpatch(ui, chunks, chunkselector, operation=None):
     """interactively filter patch chunks into applied-only chunks"""
 
+    if operation is None:
+        operation = _('confirm')
     chunks = list(chunks)
     # convert chunks list into structure suitable for displaying/modifying
     # with curses.  create a list of headers only.
diff --git a/mercurial/patch.py b/mercurial/patch.py
--- a/mercurial/patch.py
+++ b/mercurial/patch.py
@@ -950,6 +950,8 @@ class recordhunk(object):
 
 def filterpatch(ui, headers, operation=None):
     """Interactively filter patch chunks into applied-only chunks"""
+    if operation is None:
+        operation = _('record')
 
     def prompt(skipfile, skipall, query, chunk):
         """prompt query, and process base inputs