+ conjunction with --stdin.
+
+--keep::
+ Before moving the index into its final destination
+ create an empty .keep file for the associated pack file.
+ This option is usually necessary with --stdin to prevent a
+ simultaneous gitlink:git-repack[1] process from deleting
+ the newly constructed pack and index before refs can be
+ updated to use objects contained in the pack.
+
+--keep='why'::
+ Like --keep create a .keep file before moving the index into
+ its final destination, but rather than creating an empty file
+ place 'why' followed by an LF into the .keep file. The 'why'
+ message can later be searched for within all .keep files to
+ locate any which have outlived their usefulness.