diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -163,6 +163,20 @@
 subrepoopts = cmdutil.subrepoopts
 debugrevlogopts = cmdutil.debugrevlogopts
 
+
+def _maybeunfilteredrepo(repo, commandname, args, kwargs):
+    """decides if we can optimize by using an unfiltered repo
+
+    Extracted to a function so extensions can override it.
+    """
+    use_unfiltered = False
+    if commandname == b'status':
+        if not kwargs.get(b'rev') and not kwargs.get(b'change'):
+            use_unfiltered = True
+
+    return repo.unfiltered() if use_unfiltered else repo
+
+
 # Commands start here, listed alphabetically
 
 
@@ -6790,6 +6804,8 @@
         else:
             terse = ui.config(b'commands', b'status.terse')
 
+    repo = _maybeunfilteredrepo(repo, b'status', pats, opts)
+
     if revs and change:
         msg = _(b'cannot specify --rev and --change at the same time')
         raise error.Abort(msg)