diff --git a/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py b/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py
--- a/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py
+++ b/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py
@@ -917,7 +917,8 @@
         origchunks = patch.parsepatch(diff)
         chunks = cmdutil.recordfilter(ui, origchunks)[0]
         targetctx = overlaydiffcontext(stack[-1], chunks)
-    state.diffwith(targetctx, matcher, showchanges=opts.get('print_changes'))
+    showchanges = (opts.get('print_changes') or opts.get('dry_run'))
+    state.diffwith(targetctx, matcher, showchanges=showchanges)
     if not opts.get('dry_run'):
         state.apply()
         if state.commit():