diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -1781,8 +1781,7 @@
             raise error.Abort(_('histedit cancelled\n'))
     # rebuild state
     if goal == goalcontinue:
-        state.read()
-        state = bootstrapcontinue(ui, state, opts)
+        return resumehistedit(ui, repo, state)
     elif goal == goaleditplan:
         _edithisteditplan(ui, repo, state, rules)
         return
@@ -1839,6 +1838,21 @@
 
     state.write()
 
+def resumehistedit(ui, repo, state=None):
+    if not state:
+        state = histeditstate(repo)
+    with repo.wlock() as wlock, repo.lock() as lock:
+        state.wlock = wlock
+        state.lock = lock
+        opts = {'keep' : state.keep}
+        fm = ui.formatter('histedit', opts)
+        fm.startitem()
+        state.read()
+        state = bootstrapcontinue(ui, state, opts)
+        _continuehistedit(ui, repo, state)
+        _finishhistedit(ui, repo, state, fm)
+        fm.end()
+
 def _finishhistedit(ui, repo, state, fm):
     """This action runs when histedit is finishing its session"""
     hg.updaterepo(repo, state.parentctxnode, overwrite=False)
@@ -2322,5 +2336,6 @@
 def extsetup(ui):
     cmdutil.summaryhooks.add('histedit', summaryhook)
     statemod.addunfinished('histedit', fname='histedit-state', allowcommit=True,
-                            continueflag=True, abortfunc=hgaborthistedit)
-
+                            continueflag=True, abortfunc=hgaborthistedit,
+                            continuefunc=resumehistedit)
+
diff --git a/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t b/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t
--- a/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t
+++ b/tests/test-histedit-arguments.t
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#testcases abortcommand abortflag
+#testcases commandmode abortflag continueflag
 
 #if abortflag
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@
   > EOF
 #endif
 
+#if continueflag
+  $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
+  > [alias]
+  > continue = histedit --continue
+  > EOF
+#endif
+
 Test argument handling and various data parsing
 ==================================================
 
@@ -53,12 +60,13 @@
 histedit --continue/--abort with no existing state
 --------------------------------------------------
 
-  $ hg histedit --continue
-  abort: no histedit in progress
+  $ hg continue
+  abort: no histedit in progress (continueflag !)
+  abort: no operation in progress (no-continueflag !)
   [255]
   $ hg abort
   abort: no histedit in progress (abortflag !)
-  abort: no operation in progress (abortcommand !)
+  abort: no operation in progress (no-abortflag !)
   [255]
 
 Run a dummy edit to make sure we get tip^^ correctly via revsingle.
@@ -163,7 +171,7 @@
   $ echo alpha >> alpha
   $ mv .hg/histedit-state.back .hg/histedit-state
 
-  $ hg histedit --continue
+  $ hg continue
   saved backup bundle to $TESTTMP/foo/.hg/strip-backup/08d98a8350f3-02594089-histedit.hg
   $ hg log -G -T '{rev} {shortest(node)} {desc}\n' -r 2::
   @  4 f5ed five
@@ -493,7 +501,7 @@
   $ hg resolve -m --all
   (no more unresolved files)
   continue: hg histedit --continue
-  $ hg histedit --cont
+  $ hg continue
   merging foo
   warning: conflicts while merging foo! (edit, then use 'hg resolve --mark')
   Editing (6f2f0241f119), you may commit or record as needed now.
@@ -516,7 +524,7 @@
   > evolution.allowunstable=True
   > EOF
   $ hg commit --amend -m 'allow this fold'
-  $ hg histedit --continue
+  $ hg continue
 
   $ cd ..