diff --git a/hgext/inotify/__init__.py b/hgext/inotify/__init__.py
--- a/hgext/inotify/__init__.py
+++ b/hgext/inotify/__init__.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def reposetup(ui, repo):
                                        '%s\n') % inst)
                     if query:
                         try:
-                            return query(ui, repo, files or [], match,
+                            return query(ui, repo, files, match,
                                          ignored, clean, unknown)
                         except socket.error, err:
                             ui.warn(_('could not talk to new inotify '
diff --git a/hgext/inotify/client.py b/hgext/inotify/client.py
--- a/hgext/inotify/client.py
+++ b/hgext/inotify/client.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def query(ui, repo, names, match, ignore
             raise
 
     def genquery():
-        for n in names or []:
+        for n in names:
             yield n
         states = 'almrx!'
         if ignored: