diff --git a/hgext/absorb.py b/hgext/absorb.py
--- a/hgext/absorb.py
+++ b/hgext/absorb.py
@@ -1045,6 +1045,10 @@
         origchunks = patch.parsepatch(diff)
         chunks = cmdutil.recordfilter(ui, origchunks, matcher)[0]
         targetctx = overlaydiffcontext(stack[-1], chunks)
+    if opts.get(b'edit_lines'):
+        # If we're going to open the editor, don't ask the user to confirm
+        # first
+        opts[b'apply_changes'] = True
     fm = None
     if opts.get(b'print_changes') or not opts.get(b'apply_changes'):
         fm = ui.formatter(b'absorb', opts)
diff --git a/tests/test-absorb-edit-lines.t b/tests/test-absorb-edit-lines.t
--- a/tests/test-absorb-edit-lines.t
+++ b/tests/test-absorb-edit-lines.t
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@
 
 absorb --edit-lines will run the editor if filename is provided:
 
-  $ hg absorb --edit-lines --apply-changes
+  $ hg absorb --edit-lines
   nothing applied
   [1]
-  $ HGEDITOR=cat hg absorb --edit-lines --apply-changes a
+  $ HGEDITOR=cat hg absorb --edit-lines a
   HG: editing a
   HG: "y" means the line to the right exists in the changeset to the top
   HG:
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
   >     y   : f
   >     yyy : g
   > EOF
-  $ HGEDITOR='cat editortext >' hg absorb -q --edit-lines --apply-changes a
+  $ HGEDITOR='cat editortext >' hg absorb -q --edit-lines a
   $ hg cat -r 0 a
   d  
   e