diff --git a/infinitepush/backupcommands.py b/infinitepush/backupcommands.py
--- a/infinitepush/backupcommands.py
+++ b/infinitepush/backupcommands.py
@@ -787,6 +787,7 @@
     return repo.vfs.tryunlink(_backupstatefile)
 
 def _readlocalbackupstate(ui, repo):
+    repo = _getsrcrepo(repo)
     if not _localbackupstateexists(repo):
         return backupstate()
 
diff --git a/tests/test-infinitepush-backup-share.t b/tests/test-infinitepush-backup-share.t
--- a/tests/test-infinitepush-backup-share.t
+++ b/tests/test-infinitepush-backup-share.t
@@ -41,3 +41,17 @@
   $ cat .hg/infinitepushbackupstate
   rubbish
   $ [ -f ../client/.hg/infinitepushbackupstate ]
+
+Make sure that isbackedup references the main repo
+  $ hg isbackedup -r :
+  b75a450e74d5a7708da8c3144fbeb4ac88694044 backed up
+  $ hg log -T '{rev}:{node} "{desc}"\n' -r 'notbackedup()'
+
+Make another commit that is not backed up and check that too
+  $ mkcommit second
+  $ hg isbackedup -r :
+  b75a450e74d5a7708da8c3144fbeb4ac88694044 backed up
+  bc64f6a267a06b03e9e0f96a6deae37ae89a832e not backed up
+  $ hg log -T '{rev}:{node} "{desc}"\n' -r 'notbackedup()'
+  1:bc64f6a267a06b03e9e0f96a6deae37ae89a832e "second"
+