diff --git a/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py b/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py
--- a/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py
+++ b/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py
@@ -392,9 +392,21 @@
     removedincludes = narrowspec.parsepatterns(opts['removeinclude'])
     addedexcludes = narrowspec.parsepatterns(opts['addexclude'])
     removedexcludes = narrowspec.parsepatterns(opts['removeexclude'])
+
+    only_show = not (addedincludes or removedincludes or addedexcludes or
+                     removedexcludes or newrules)
+
+    oldincludes, oldexcludes = repo.narrowpats
+
+    # filter the user passed additions and deletions into actual additions and
+    # deletions of excludes and includes
+    addedincludes = set([i for i in addedincludes if i not in oldincludes])
+    removedincludes = set([i for i in removedincludes if i in oldincludes])
+    addedexcludes = set([i for i in addedexcludes if i not in oldexcludes])
+    removedexcludes = set([i for i in removedexcludes if i in oldexcludes])
+
     widening = addedincludes or removedexcludes
     narrowing = removedincludes or addedexcludes
-    only_show = not widening and not narrowing
 
     # Only print the current narrowspec.
     if only_show:
@@ -413,6 +425,10 @@
         fm.end()
         return 0
 
+    if not widening and not narrowing:
+        ui.status(_("nothing to widen or narrow\n"))
+        return 0
+
     with repo.wlock(), repo.lock():
         cmdutil.bailifchanged(repo)
 
@@ -432,7 +448,6 @@
 
         commoninc = discovery.findcommonincoming(repo, remote)
 
-        oldincludes, oldexcludes = repo.narrowpats
         if narrowing:
             newincludes = oldincludes - removedincludes
             newexcludes = oldexcludes | addedexcludes
diff --git a/tests/test-narrow-clone-non-narrow-server.t b/tests/test-narrow-clone-non-narrow-server.t
--- a/tests/test-narrow-clone-non-narrow-server.t
+++ b/tests/test-narrow-clone-non-narrow-server.t
@@ -58,7 +58,11 @@
   comparing with http://localhost:$HGPORT1/
   searching for changes
   looking for local changes to affected paths
+
   $ hg tracked --addinclude f1 http://localhost:$HGPORT1/
+  nothing to widen or narrow
+
+  $ hg tracked --addinclude f9 http://localhost:$HGPORT1/
   comparing with http://localhost:$HGPORT1/
   abort: server does not support narrow clones
   [255]
diff --git a/tests/test-narrow-widen-no-ellipsis.t b/tests/test-narrow-widen-no-ellipsis.t
--- a/tests/test-narrow-widen-no-ellipsis.t
+++ b/tests/test-narrow-widen-no-ellipsis.t
@@ -144,12 +144,7 @@
 wireprotocol command
 
   $ hg tracked --addinclude widest/f
-  comparing with ssh://user@dummy/master
-  searching for changes
-  adding changesets
-  adding manifests
-  adding file changes
-  added 0 changesets with 0 changes to 0 files
+  nothing to widen or narrow
 
 Pull down the newly added upstream revision.