diff --git a/hgext3rd/backups.py b/hgext3rd/backups.py
--- a/hgext3rd/backups.py
+++ b/hgext3rd/backups.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from mercurial import bundle2, registrar
 from mercurial import lock as lockmod
 from mercurial import pycompat
+from mercurial import scmutil
 from mercurial import util
 from hgext import pager
 from mercurial.node import nullid, short
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@
 
     recovernode = opts.get('recover')
     if recovernode:
-        if recovernode in repo:
+        if scmutil.isrevsymbol(repo, recovernode):
             ui.warn(_("%s already exists in the repo\n") % recovernode)
             return
     else:
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@
                     tr = lock = None
                     try:
                         lock = repo.lock()
-                        if recovernode in other:
+                        if scmutil.isrevsymbol(other, recovernode):
                             ui.status(_("Unbundling %s\n") % (recovernode))
                             f = hg.openpath(ui, source)
                             gen = exchange.readbundle(ui, f, source)