int status;
struct strbuf branch_ref = STRBUF_INIT;
+ if (!opts->new_branch)
+ die(_("You are on a branch yet to be born"));
strbuf_addf(&branch_ref, "refs/heads/%s", opts->new_branch);
status = create_symref("HEAD", branch_ref.buf, "checkout -b");
strbuf_release(&branch_ref);