diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -1512,6 +1512,8 @@ def init(ui, repo, **opts):
     if r:
         if not os.path.exists(r.wjoin('.hgignore')):
             fp = r.wopener('.hgignore', 'w')
+            fp.write('^\\.hg\n')
+            fp.write('^\\.mq\n')
             fp.write('syntax: glob\n')
             fp.write('status\n')
             fp.write('guards\n')
diff --git a/tests/test-mq.out b/tests/test-mq.out
--- a/tests/test-mq.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq.out
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ A series
 A test.patch
 % qinit; qinit -c
   .hgignore:
+^\.hg
+^\.mq
 syntax: glob
 status
 guards