diff --git a/mercurial/context.py b/mercurial/context.py
--- a/mercurial/context.py
+++ b/mercurial/context.py
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ class basectx(object):
         return hex(self.node())
     def manifest(self):
         return self._manifest
+    def phasestr(self):
+        return phases.phasenames[self.phase()]
 
 class changectx(basectx):
     """A changecontext object makes access to data related to a particular
@@ -234,8 +236,6 @@ class changectx(basectx):
         return self._repo.nodebookmarks(self._node)
     def phase(self):
         return self._repo._phasecache.phase(self._repo, self._rev)
-    def phasestr(self):
-        return phases.phasenames[self.phase()]
     def mutable(self):
         return self.phase() > phases.public
     def hidden(self):