diff --git a/hgext/rebase.py b/hgext/rebase.py
--- a/hgext/rebase.py
+++ b/hgext/rebase.py
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ def buildstate(repo, dest, src, base, de
             srcancestors = set(repo.changelog.ancestors(source))
             baseancestors = set(repo.changelog.ancestors(commonbase.rev()))
             detachset = srcancestors - baseancestors
-            detachset.remove(commonbase.rev())
+            detachset.discard(commonbase.rev())
     else:
         if base:
             cwd = repo[base].rev()
diff --git a/mercurial/templater.py b/mercurial/templater.py
--- a/mercurial/templater.py
+++ b/mercurial/templater.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class engine(object):
         v = self._get(mapping, key)
         if not hasattr(v, '__iter__'):
             raise SyntaxError(_("error expanding '%s%%%s'")
-                              % (key, format))
+                              % (key, parsed))
         lm = mapping.copy()
         for i in v:
             if isinstance(i, dict):
diff --git a/tests/test-rebase-detach.t b/tests/test-rebase-detach.t
--- a/tests/test-rebase-detach.t
+++ b/tests/test-rebase-detach.t
@@ -191,3 +191,44 @@ Rebasing C onto E detaching from B and c
 
   $ cd ..
 
+Rebasing across null as ancestor
+  $ hg clone -q -U a a5
+
+  $ cd a5
+
+  $ echo x > x
+
+  $ hg add x
+
+  $ hg ci -m "extra branch"
+  created new head
+
+  $ hg tglog
+  @  5: 'extra branch'
+  
+  o  4: 'E'
+  |
+  | o  3: 'D'
+  | |
+  | o  2: 'C'
+  | |
+  | o  1: 'B'
+  |/
+  o  0: 'A'
+  
+  $ hg rebase --detach -s 1 -d tip
+  saved backup bundle to $TESTTMP/a5/.hg/strip-backup/*-backup.hg (glob)
+
+  $ hg tglog
+  @  5: 'D'
+  |
+  o  4: 'C'
+  |
+  o  3: 'B'
+  |
+  o  2: 'extra branch'
+  
+  o  1: 'E'
+  |
+  o  0: 'A'
+