diff --git a/hgext3rd/obsshelve.py b/hgext3rd/obsshelve.py
--- a/hgext3rd/obsshelve.py
+++ b/hgext3rd/obsshelve.py
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@
         """Cleanup temporary nodes from the repo"""
         if self.obsshelve:
             unfi = repo.unfiltered()
-            relations = [(unfi[n], ()) for n in self.nodestoremove]
+            relations = [(unfi[n or '.'], ()) for n in self.nodestoremove]
             obsolete.createmarkers(repo, relations)
         else:
             repair.strip(ui, repo, self.nodestoremove, backup=False,