diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -1417,6 +1417,11 @@ def verifyactions(actions, state, ctxs):
     expected = set(c.node() for c in ctxs)
     seen = set()
     prev = None
+
+    if actions and actions[0].verb in ['roll', 'fold']:
+        raise error.ParseError(_('first changeset cannot use verb "%s"') %
+                               actions[0].verb)
+
     for action in actions:
         action.verify(prev, expected, seen)
         prev = action
diff --git a/tests/test-histedit-edit.t b/tests/test-histedit-edit.t
--- a/tests/test-histedit-edit.t
+++ b/tests/test-histedit-edit.t
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ Attempting to fold a change into a publi
   > EOF
   $ HGEDITOR="sh ../edit.sh" hg histedit 2
   warning: histedit rules saved to: .hg/histedit-last-edit.txt
-  hg: parse error: cannot fold into public change 18aa70c8ad22
+  hg: parse error: first changeset cannot use verb "fold"
   [255]
   $ cat .hg/histedit-last-edit.txt
   fold 0012be4a27ea 2 extend a
diff --git a/tests/test-histedit-fold.t b/tests/test-histedit-fold.t
--- a/tests/test-histedit-fold.t
+++ b/tests/test-histedit-fold.t
@@ -541,3 +541,36 @@ Editor should have run only once
   END
 
   $ cd ..
+
+Test rolling into a commit with multiple children (issue5498)
+
+  $ hg init roll
+  $ cd roll
+  $ echo a > a
+  $ hg commit -qAm aa
+  $ echo b > b
+  $ hg commit -qAm bb
+  $ hg up -q ".^"
+  $ echo c > c
+  $ hg commit -qAm cc
+  $ hg log -G -T '{node|short} {desc}'
+  @  5db65b93a12b cc
+  |
+  | o  301d76bdc3ae bb
+  |/
+  o  8f0162e483d0 aa
+  
+
+  $ hg histedit . --commands - << EOF
+  > r 5db65b93a12b
+  > EOF
+  hg: parse error: first changeset cannot use verb "roll"
+  [255]
+  $ hg log -G -T '{node|short} {desc}'
+  @  5db65b93a12b cc
+  |
+  | o  301d76bdc3ae bb
+  |/
+  o  8f0162e483d0 aa
+  
+