diff --git a/git-checkout.sh b/git-checkout.sh
index 6a87c717e9..76e7f55226 100755
--- a/git-checkout.sh
+++ b/git-checkout.sh
@@ -165,8 +165,10 @@ else
 	exit 0
     )
     saved_err=$?
-    test "$new" = "$old" ||
-	git diff-index --name-status "$new"
+    if test "$saved_err" = 0
+    then
+	test "$new" = "$old" || git diff-index --name-status "$new"
+    fi
     (exit $saved_err)
 fi