diff --git a/tests/test-mq b/tests/test-mq
--- a/tests/test-mq
+++ b/tests/test-mq
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ hg qnext
 hg qprev
 hg qapplied
 
+echo % commit should fail
+hg commit
+
 echo % qunapplied
 hg qunapplied
 
diff --git a/tests/test-mq.out b/tests/test-mq.out
--- a/tests/test-mq.out
+++ b/tests/test-mq.out
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ Now at: test.patch
 test2.patch
 Only one patch applied
 test.patch
+% commit should fail
+abort: cannot commit over an applied mq patch
 % qunapplied
 test2.patch
 % strip