diff --git a/mercurial/dispatch.py b/mercurial/dispatch.py
--- a/mercurial/dispatch.py
+++ b/mercurial/dispatch.py
@@ -96,10 +96,16 @@
             err = e
             status = -1
     if util.safehasattr(req.ui, 'ferr'):
-        if err is not None and err.errno != errno.EPIPE:
-            req.ui.ferr.write('abort: %s\n' %
-                              encoding.strtolocal(err.strerror))
-        req.ui.ferr.flush()
+        try:
+            if err is not None and err.errno != errno.EPIPE:
+                req.ui.ferr.write('abort: %s\n' %
+                                  encoding.strtolocal(err.strerror))
+            req.ui.ferr.flush()
+        # There's not much we can do about an I/O error here. So (possibly)
+        # change the status code and move on.
+        except IOError:
+            status = -1
+
     sys.exit(status & 255)
 
 def _initstdio():
diff --git a/tests/test-basic.t b/tests/test-basic.t
--- a/tests/test-basic.t
+++ b/tests/test-basic.t
@@ -34,15 +34,7 @@
   [255]
 #endif
 
-#if devfull no-chg
-  $ hg status >/dev/full 2>&1
-  [1]
-
-  $ hg status ENOENT 2>/dev/full
-  [1]
-#endif
-
-#if devfull chg
+#if devfull
   $ hg status >/dev/full 2>&1
   [255]