diff --git a/autoload/airline/async.vim b/autoload/airline/async.vim
index 197da66e..454db1dd 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/async.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/async.vim
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ function! s:untracked_output(dict, buf)
   endif
 endfunction
 
-function! s:mq_output(buf, file)
+function! airline#async#mq_output(buf, file)
   let buf=a:buf
   if !empty(a:buf)
-    if a:buf is# 'no patches applied ' ||
+    if a:buf =~# 'no patches applied' ||
       \ a:buf =~# "unknown command 'qtop'"
       let buf = ''
     elseif exists("b:mq") && b:mq isnot# buf
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ if v:version >= 800 && has("job")
   endfunction
 
   function! s:on_exit_mq(channel) dict abort
-    call s:mq_output(self.buf, self.file)
+    call airline#async#mq_output(self.buf, self.file)
   endfunction
 
   function! s:on_exit_untracked(channel) dict abort
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ elseif has("nvim")
 
   function! s:nvim_mq_job_handler(job_id, data, event) dict
     if a:event == 'exit'
-      call s:mq_output(self.buf, self.file)
+      call airline#async#mq_output(self.buf, self.file)
     endif
   endfunction
 
diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
index b63183b7..c589bdde 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/branch.vim
@@ -124,21 +124,16 @@ function! s:update_hg_branch(...)
   if s:has_lawrencium
     let cmd='LC_ALL=C hg qtop'
     let stl=lawrencium#statusline()
+    let file=expand('%:p')
     if !empty(stl) && get(b:, 'airline_do_mq_check', 1)
       if g:airline#init#vim_async
-        call airline#async#get_mq_async(cmd, expand('%:p'))
+        call airline#async#get_mq_async(cmd, file)
       elseif has("nvim")
-        call airline#async#nvim_get_mq_async(cmd, expand('%:p'))
+        call airline#async#nvim_get_mq_async(cmd, file)
       else
         " remove \n at the end of the command
         let output=system(cmd)[0:-2]
-        if output is# 'no patches applied ' ||
-          \ output =~# "unknown command 'qtop'"
-          let b:mq=''
-        else
-          unlet! b:airline_head
-          let b:mq = output
-        endif
+        call airline#async#mq_output(output, file)
       endif
     endif
     " do not do mq check anymore