diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -1632,6 +1632,9 @@ def import_(ui, repo, patch1, *patches, 
                         repo.rollback()
                         raise util.Abort(_('patch is damaged' +
                                            ' or loses information'))
+                # Force a dirstate write so that the next transaction backups
+                # an up-do-date file.
+                repo.dirstate.write()
             finally:
                 os.unlink(tmpname)
     finally:
diff --git a/tests/test-import b/tests/test-import
--- a/tests/test-import
+++ b/tests/test-import
@@ -111,6 +111,18 @@ python mkmsg2.py | hg --cwd b import -
 hg --cwd b tip --template '{desc}\n'
 rm -r b
 
+# We weren't backing up the correct dirstate file when importing many patches
+# (issue963)
+echo '% import patch1 patch2; rollback'
+echo line 3 >> a/a
+hg --cwd a ci -m'third change'
+hg --cwd a export -o '../patch%R' 1 2
+hg clone -qr0 a b
+hg --cwd b parents --template 'parent: #rev#\n'
+hg --cwd b import ../patch1 ../patch2
+hg --cwd b rollback
+hg --cwd b parents --template 'parent: #rev#\n'
+rm -r b
 
 # bug non regression test
 # importing a patch in a subdirectory failed at the commit stage
diff --git a/tests/test-import.out b/tests/test-import.out
--- a/tests/test-import.out
+++ b/tests/test-import.out
@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ email patch
 
 next line
 ---
+% import patch1 patch2; rollback
+parent: 0
+applying ../patch1
+applying ../patch2
+rolling back last transaction
+parent: 1
 % hg import in a subdirectory
 requesting all changes
 adding changesets