diff --git a/git-merge-resolve.sh b/git-merge-resolve.sh
index 343fe7bccd..77e93121bf 100755
--- a/git-merge-resolve.sh
+++ b/git-merge-resolve.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,16 @@
 #
 # Resolve two trees, using enhanced multi-base read-tree.
 
+. git-sh-setup
+
+# Abort if index does not match HEAD
+if ! git diff-index --quiet --cached HEAD --
+then
+    gettextln "Error: Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by merge"
+    git diff-index --cached --name-only HEAD -- | sed -e 's/^/    /'
+    exit 2
+fi
+
 # The first parameters up to -- are merge bases; the rest are heads.
 bases= head= remotes= sep_seen=
 for arg
diff --git a/t/t6424-merge-unrelated-index-changes.sh b/t/t6424-merge-unrelated-index-changes.sh
index b6e424a427..eabe6bda83 100755
--- a/t/t6424-merge-unrelated-index-changes.sh
+++ b/t/t6424-merge-unrelated-index-changes.sh
@@ -114,6 +114,19 @@ test_expect_success 'resolve, non-trivial' '
 	test_path_is_missing .git/MERGE_HEAD
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'resolve, non-trivial, related file removed' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	git checkout B^0 &&
+
+	git rm a &&
+	test_path_is_missing a &&
+
+	test_must_fail git merge -s resolve D^0 &&
+
+	test_path_is_missing a &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/MERGE_HEAD
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'recursive' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout B^0 &&