diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -738,10 +738,10 @@
         for f in sorted(files):
             absf = repo.wjoin(f)
             if os.path.lexists(absf):
+                absorig = scmutil.origpath(self.ui, repo, absf)
                 self.ui.note(_('saving current version of %s as %s\n') %
-                             (f, scmutil.origpath(self.ui, repo, f)))
-
-                absorig = scmutil.origpath(self.ui, repo, absf)
+                             (f, os.path.relpath(absorig)))
+
                 if copy:
                     util.copyfile(absf, absorig)
                 else:
diff --git a/tests/test-mq.t b/tests/test-mq.t
--- a/tests/test-mq.t
+++ b/tests/test-mq.t
@@ -1406,7 +1406,7 @@
   $ hg qpush -f --verbose --config 'ui.origbackuppath=.hg/origbackups'
   applying empty
   creating directory: $TESTTMP/forcepush/.hg/origbackups
-  saving current version of hello.txt as $TESTTMP/forcepush/.hg/origbackups/hello.txt
+  saving current version of hello.txt as .hg/origbackups/hello.txt
   patching file hello.txt
   committing files:
   hello.txt