diff --git a/cache-tree.c b/cache-tree.c
index f755590da8..ce0d0e3ecc 100644
--- a/cache-tree.c
+++ b/cache-tree.c
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ static int verify_cache(struct cache_entry **cache,
 	funny = 0;
 	for (i = 0; i < entries; i++) {
 		struct cache_entry *ce = cache[i];
-		if (ce_stage(ce) || (ce->ce_flags & CE_INTENT_TO_ADD)) {
+		if (ce_stage(ce)) {
 			if (10 < ++funny) {
 				fprintf(stderr, "...\n");
 				break;
@@ -336,8 +336,8 @@ static int update_one(struct cache_tree *it,
 				mode, sha1_to_hex(sha1), entlen+baselen, path);
 		}
 
-		if (ce->ce_flags & CE_REMOVE)
-			continue; /* entry being removed */
+		if (ce->ce_flags & (CE_REMOVE | CE_INTENT_TO_ADD))
+			continue; /* entry being removed or placeholder */
 
 		strbuf_grow(&buffer, entlen + 100);
 		strbuf_addf(&buffer, "%o %.*s%c", mode, entlen, path + baselen, '\0');
diff --git a/t/t2203-add-intent.sh b/t/t2203-add-intent.sh
index 25435290a7..ec35409f9c 100755
--- a/t/t2203-add-intent.sh
+++ b/t/t2203-add-intent.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ test_expect_success 'intent to add does not clobber existing paths' '
 	! grep "$empty" actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cannot commit with i-t-a entry' '
+test_expect_success 'i-t-a entry is simply ignored' '
 	test_tick &&
 	git commit -a -m initial &&
 	git reset --hard &&
@@ -41,12 +41,14 @@ test_expect_success 'cannot commit with i-t-a entry' '
 	echo frotz >nitfol &&
 	git add rezrov &&
 	git add -N nitfol &&
-	test_must_fail git commit -m initial
+	git commit -m second &&
+	test $(git ls-tree HEAD -- nitfol | wc -l) = 0 &&
+	test $(git diff --name-only HEAD -- nitfol | wc -l) = 1
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'can commit with an unrelated i-t-a entry in index' '
 	git reset --hard &&
-	echo xyzzy >rezrov &&
+	echo bozbar >rezrov &&
 	echo frotz >nitfol &&
 	git add rezrov &&
 	git add -N nitfol &&