diff --git a/builtin-checkout.c b/builtin-checkout.c
index 1deda927cd..05eee4ecc7 100644
--- a/builtin-checkout.c
+++ b/builtin-checkout.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static int post_checkout_hook(struct commit *old, struct commit *new,
 
 	memset(&proc, 0, sizeof(proc));
 	argv[0] = name;
-	argv[1] = xstrdup(sha1_to_hex(old->object.sha1));
+	argv[1] = xstrdup(sha1_to_hex(old ? old->object.sha1 : null_sha1));
 	argv[2] = xstrdup(sha1_to_hex(new->object.sha1));
 	argv[3] = changed ? "1" : "0";
 	argv[4] = NULL;
@@ -360,10 +360,10 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(struct checkout_opts *opts,
 
 	strbuf_init(&msg, 0);
 	old_desc = old->name;
-	if (!old_desc)
+	if (!old_desc && old->commit)
 		old_desc = sha1_to_hex(old->commit->object.sha1);
 	strbuf_addf(&msg, "checkout: moving from %s to %s",
-		    old_desc, new->name);
+		    old_desc ? old_desc : "(invalid)", new->name);
 
 	if (new->path) {
 		create_symref("HEAD", new->path, msg.buf);
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ static int switch_branches(struct checkout_opts *opts, struct branch_info *new)
 	 * a new commit, we want to mention the old commit once more
 	 * to remind the user that it might be lost.
 	 */
-	if (!opts->quiet && !old.path && new->commit != old.commit)
+	if (!opts->quiet && !old.path && old.commit && new->commit != old.commit)
 		describe_detached_head("Previous HEAD position was", old.commit);
 
 	if (!old.commit) {
diff --git a/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh b/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..764bb0a6bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='checkout switching away from an invalid branch'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+test_expect_success 'setup' '
+	echo hello >world &&
+	git add world &&
+	git commit -m initial
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout master from invalid HEAD' '
+	echo 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 >.git/HEAD &&
+	git checkout master --
+'
+
+test_done