diff --git a/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py b/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py
--- a/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py
+++ b/hgext3rd/absorb/__init__.py
@@ -803,7 +803,10 @@
                                                     True):
             extra['absorb_source'] = ctx.hex()
         mctx = overlaycontext(memworkingcopy, ctx, parents, extra=extra)
-        return mctx.commit()
+        # preserve phase
+        with mctx.repo().ui.configoverride({
+            ('phases', 'new-commit'): ctx.phase()}):
+            return mctx.commit()
 
     @util.propertycache
     def _useobsolete(self):
diff --git a/tests/test-absorb-phase.t b/tests/test-absorb-phase.t
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test-absorb-phase.t
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+  $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
+  > [extensions]
+  > absorb=$TESTDIR/../hgext3rd/absorb
+  > drawdag=$RUNTESTDIR/drawdag.py
+  > EOF
+
+  $ hg init
+  $ hg debugdrawdag <<'EOS'
+  > C
+  > |
+  > B
+  > |
+  > A
+  > EOS
+
+  $ hg phase -r A --public -q
+  $ hg phase -r C --secret --force -q
+
+  $ hg update C -q
+  $ printf B1 > B
+
+  $ hg absorb -q
+
+  $ hg log -G -T '{desc} {phase}'
+  @  C secret
+  |
+  o  B draft
+  |
+  o  A public
+