diff --git a/vc-p4.el b/vc-p4.el
index 0ac8587..d9d71c0 100644
--- a/vc-p4.el
+++ b/vc-p4.el
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ compare non-open files to the depot version."
                     (if (string-match " by \\([^@]+\\)@" opened)
                         (match-string 1 opened)
                       (if (equal headRev haveRev)
-                          'edited
+                          (if (string= action "add") 'added 'edited)
                         'needs-merge))))
                  ((and (file-exists-p file)
 		       (not dont-compare-nonopened)