diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
index abda0782..f1300b4d 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
@@ -102,12 +102,13 @@ endfunction
 
 function! s:get_hg_branch()
   if s:has_lawrencium
+    let stl=lawrencium#statusline()
     let mq=system('hg qtop')
-    if v:shell_error==0
-      let mq=matchstr(mq, '.*\ze\n')
-      return lawrencium#statusline(). '/'. mq
+    if v:shell_error==0 && !empty(stl)
+      let mq=matchstr(mq, '.*\ze\n') 
+      return printf("%s/%s", stl, mq)
     endif
-    return lawrencium#statusline()
+    return stl
   endif
   return ''
 endfunction