From: Tyler Cipriani <tyler@tylercipriani.com>
To: git@vger.kernel.org
Cc: Srinidhi Kaushik <shrinidhi.kaushik@gmail.com>,
Stefan Haller <lists@haller-berlin.de>,
"D . Ben Knoble" <ben.knoble@gmail.com>,
Phillip Wood <phillip.wood123@gmail.com>,
Johannes Schindelin <Johannes.Schindelin@gmx.de>,
Tyler Cipriani <tyler@tylercipriani.com>
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] push: fix --force-if-includes detached HEAD advice
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2026 15:01:22 -0600 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260904210122.431757-3-tyler@tylercipriani.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260904210122.431757-1-tyler@tylercipriani.com>
When a --force-if-includes push is rejected due to a detached HEAD
state where there is no per-branch reflog to consult, the advice is
misleading:
! [rejected] HEAD -> main (remote ref updated since checkout)
error: failed to push some refs to '<remote>'
hint: Updates were rejected because the tip of the remote-tracking
hint: branch has been updated since the last checkout. If you want
hint: to integrate the remote changes, use 'git pull' before
hint: pushing again. See the 'Note about fast-forwards' in 'git
hint: push --help' for details.
But a `git pull` will not fix this rejection. What is required is either
- Specify the expected remote tip with --force-with-lease=<ref>:<expect>
- Ignore the error with --no-force-if-includes
Add ref->unverifiable to differentiate between a detached HEAD rejection
vs. a remote update rejection.
Ensure tests check the rejection message.
Reported-by: D. Ben Knoble <ben.knoble@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Tyler Cipriani <tyler@tylercipriani.com>
---
Documentation/config/advice.adoc | 4 ++++
advice.c | 1 +
advice.h | 1 +
builtin/push.c | 15 +++++++++++++++
builtin/send-pack.c | 5 +++++
remote.c | 5 ++++-
remote.h | 10 +++++++---
send-pack.c | 1 +
t/t5533-push-cas.sh | 7 +++++--
transport-helper.c | 5 +++++
transport.c | 8 ++++++++
transport.h | 1 +
12 files changed, 57 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/config/advice.adoc b/Documentation/config/advice.adoc
index 257db58918..a0eff8bbd6 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/advice.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/config/advice.adoc
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ all advice messages.
Shown when linkgit:git-push[1] rejects a forced update of
a branch when its remote-tracking ref has updates that we
do not have locally.
+ pushRefUnverifiable::
+ Shown when linkgit:git-push[1] rejects a forced update of
+ a branch when we are unable to verify the remote-tracking
+ ref is available locally.
pushUnqualifiedRefname::
Shown when linkgit:git-push[1] gives up trying to
guess based on the source and destination refs what
diff --git a/advice.c b/advice.c
index 0018501b7b..08842deb66 100644
--- a/advice.c
+++ b/advice.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ static struct {
[ADVICE_PUSH_NON_FF_CURRENT] = { "pushNonFFCurrent" },
[ADVICE_PUSH_NON_FF_MATCHING] = { "pushNonFFMatching" },
[ADVICE_PUSH_REF_NEEDS_UPDATE] = { "pushRefNeedsUpdate" },
+ [ADVICE_PUSH_REF_UNVERIFIABLE] = { "pushRefUnverifiable" },
[ADVICE_PUSH_UNQUALIFIED_REF_NAME] = { "pushUnqualifiedRefName" },
[ADVICE_PUSH_UPDATE_REJECTED] = { "pushUpdateRejected" },
[ADVICE_PUSH_UPDATE_REJECTED_ALIAS] = { "pushNonFastForward" }, /* backwards compatibility */
diff --git a/advice.h b/advice.h
index 8def280688..189eadc089 100644
--- a/advice.h
+++ b/advice.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ enum advice_type {
ADVICE_PUSH_NON_FF_CURRENT,
ADVICE_PUSH_NON_FF_MATCHING,
ADVICE_PUSH_REF_NEEDS_UPDATE,
+ ADVICE_PUSH_REF_UNVERIFIABLE,
ADVICE_PUSH_UNQUALIFIED_REF_NAME,
ADVICE_PUSH_UPDATE_REJECTED,
ADVICE_PUSH_UPDATE_REJECTED_ALIAS,
diff --git a/builtin/push.c b/builtin/push.c
index 6021b71d66..9676c6241f 100644
--- a/builtin/push.c
+++ b/builtin/push.c
@@ -319,6 +319,12 @@ static const char message_advice_ref_needs_update[] =
"remote changes, use 'git pull' before pushing again.\n"
"See the 'Note about fast-forwards' in 'git push --help' for details.");
+static const char message_advice_ref_unverifiable[] =
+ N_("Updates were rejected because the tip of the remote-tracking branch\n"
+ "cannot be checked against a detached HEAD. If you want to push anyway,\n"
+ "specify the expected value with '--force-with-lease=<ref>:<expect>'\n"
+ "or use '--no-force-if-includes' to skip this check.");
+
static void advise_pull_before_push(void)
{
if (!advice_enabled(ADVICE_PUSH_NON_FF_CURRENT) || !advice_enabled(ADVICE_PUSH_UPDATE_REJECTED))
@@ -361,6 +367,13 @@ static void advise_ref_needs_update(void)
advise(_(message_advice_ref_needs_update));
}
+static void advise_ref_unverifiable(void)
+{
+ if (!advice_enabled(ADVICE_PUSH_REF_UNVERIFIABLE) || !advice_enabled(ADVICE_PUSH_UPDATE_REJECTED))
+ return;
+ advise(_(message_advice_ref_unverifiable));
+}
+
static int push_with_options(struct transport *transport, struct refspec *rs,
int flags)
{
@@ -412,6 +425,8 @@ static int push_with_options(struct transport *transport, struct refspec *rs,
advise_ref_needs_force();
} else if (reject_reasons & REJECT_REF_NEEDS_UPDATE) {
advise_ref_needs_update();
+ } else if (reject_reasons & REJECT_REF_UNVERIFIABLE) {
+ advise_ref_unverifiable();
}
return 1;
diff --git a/builtin/send-pack.c b/builtin/send-pack.c
index 1412b49bc8..07accb6e6b 100644
--- a/builtin/send-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/send-pack.c
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ static void print_helper_status(struct ref *ref)
msg = "remote ref updated since checkout";
break;
+ case REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE:
+ res = "error";
+ msg = "remote ref unverifiable";
+ break;
+
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_ALREADY_EXISTS:
res = "error";
msg = "already exists";
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 326af76eeb..72bfc4dbc4 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -1701,6 +1701,9 @@ void set_ref_status_for_push(struct ref *remote_refs, int send_mirror,
else if (ref->check_reachable && ref->unreachable)
reject_reason =
REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED;
+ else if (ref->check_reachable && ref->unverifiable)
+ reject_reason =
+ REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE;
else
/*
* If the ref isn't stale, and is reachable
@@ -2823,7 +2826,7 @@ static void check_if_includes_upstream(struct ref *remote)
"HEAD", 0, NULL, &flag);
if (!name || !(flag & REF_ISSYMREF)) {
/* detached HEAD: no per-branch reflog to consult */
- remote->unreachable = 1;
+ remote->unverifiable = 1;
return;
}
}
diff --git a/remote.h b/remote.h
index 54b17e4b02..8e2d56c2c2 100644
--- a/remote.h
+++ b/remote.h
@@ -169,10 +169,13 @@ struct ref {
/* Need to check if local reflog reaches the remote tip. */
check_reachable:1,
/*
- * Store the result of the check enabled by "check_reachable";
- * implies the local reflog does not reach the remote tip.
+ * Store the result of the check enabled by "check_reachable".
+ * "unreachable" implies the local reflog does not reach the remote
+ * tip. "unverifiable" implies no local branch reflog to check; i.e.,
+ * detached HEAD.
*/
- unreachable:1;
+ unreachable:1,
+ unverifiable:1;
enum {
REF_NOT_MATCHED = 0, /* initial value */
@@ -203,6 +206,7 @@ struct ref {
REF_STATUS_REJECT_STALE,
REF_STATUS_REJECT_SHALLOW,
REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED,
+ REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE,
REF_STATUS_UPTODATE,
REF_STATUS_REMOTE_REJECT,
REF_STATUS_EXPECTING_REPORT,
diff --git a/send-pack.c b/send-pack.c
index 3bb5afc687..6b78470f37 100644
--- a/send-pack.c
+++ b/send-pack.c
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ static int check_to_send_update(const struct ref *ref, const struct send_pack_ar
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_NEEDS_FORCE:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_STALE:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED:
+ case REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_NODELETE:
return CHECK_REF_STATUS_REJECTED;
case REF_STATUS_UPTODATE:
diff --git a/t/t5533-push-cas.sh b/t/t5533-push-cas.sh
index 0c02151747..fe6af3f41c 100755
--- a/t/t5533-push-cas.sh
+++ b/t/t5533-push-cas.sh
@@ -311,7 +311,8 @@ test_expect_success 'background updates to remote can be mitigated with "--force
git switch main &&
test_commit J &&
git fetch --all &&
- test_must_fail git push --force-with-lease --force-if-includes --all
+ test_must_fail git push --force-with-lease --force-if-includes --all 2>err &&
+ test_grep "remote ref updated since checkout" err
) &&
git ls-remote dst refs/heads/main >actual.main &&
git ls-remote dst refs/heads/branch >actual.branch &&
@@ -457,7 +458,9 @@ test_expect_success '"--force-if-includes" should reject forced update from deta
git reset --hard origin/main &&
git switch -c newbranch origin/main &&
git checkout HEAD^ &&
- test_must_fail git push --force-if-includes --force-with-lease origin HEAD:main
+ test_must_fail git push --force-if-includes --force-with-lease origin HEAD:main 2>err &&
+ test_grep "remote ref unverifiable" err &&
+ test_grep "no-force-if-includes" err
)
'
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 80f90eb7ba..1763570352 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -893,6 +893,10 @@ static int push_update_ref_status(struct strbuf *buf,
status = REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED;
FREE_AND_NULL(msg);
}
+ else if (!strcmp(msg, "remote ref unverifiable")) {
+ status = REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE;
+ FREE_AND_NULL(msg);
+ }
else if (!strcmp(msg, "forced update")) {
forced = 1;
FREE_AND_NULL(msg);
@@ -1046,6 +1050,7 @@ static int push_refs_with_push(struct transport *transport,
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_STALE:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_ALREADY_EXISTS:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED:
+ case REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE:
if (atomic) {
reject_atomic_push(remote_refs, mirror);
string_list_clear(&cas_options, 0);
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 0f5ec30247..3d60d6de54 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -779,6 +779,11 @@ static int print_one_push_report(struct ref *ref, const char *dest, int count,
"remote ref updated since checkout",
report, porcelain, summary_width);
break;
+ case REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE:
+ print_ref_status('!', "[rejected]", ref, ref->peer_ref,
+ "remote ref unverifiable",
+ report, porcelain, summary_width);
+ break;
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_SHALLOW:
print_ref_status('!', "[rejected]", ref, ref->peer_ref,
"new shallow roots not allowed",
@@ -893,6 +898,8 @@ void transport_print_push_status(const char *dest, struct ref *refs,
*reject_reasons |= REJECT_NEEDS_FORCE;
} else if (ref->status == REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED) {
*reject_reasons |= REJECT_REF_NEEDS_UPDATE;
+ } else if (ref->status == REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE) {
+ *reject_reasons |= REJECT_REF_UNVERIFIABLE;
}
}
free(head);
@@ -1348,6 +1355,7 @@ static int pre_push_hook_feed_stdin(int hook_stdin_fd, void *pp_cb UNUSED, void
switch (r->status) {
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_NONFASTFORWARD:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_REMOTE_UPDATED:
+ case REF_STATUS_REJECT_UNVERIFIABLE:
case REF_STATUS_REJECT_STALE:
case REF_STATUS_UPTODATE:
return 0; /* skip refs which won't be pushed */
diff --git a/transport.h b/transport.h
index 7e5867cffa..eaa3b616ee 100644
--- a/transport.h
+++ b/transport.h
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ void transport_set_verbosity(struct transport *transport, int verbosity,
#define REJECT_FETCH_FIRST 0x08
#define REJECT_NEEDS_FORCE 0x10
#define REJECT_REF_NEEDS_UPDATE 0x20
+#define REJECT_REF_UNVERIFIABLE 0x40
int transport_push(struct repository *repo,
struct transport *connection,
--
2.47.3
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-09-04 21:01 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 22+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-09-04 21:01 [PATCH 0/2] push: fix --force-if-includes consulting wrong ref Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-04 21:01 ` [PATCH 1/2] push: check pushed ref for --force-if-includes Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-05 18:57 ` Ben Knoble
2026-09-04 21:01 ` Tyler Cipriani [this message]
2026-09-05 18:59 ` [PATCH 0/2] push: fix --force-if-includes consulting wrong ref Ben Knoble
2026-09-06 20:24 ` Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-08 22:20 ` [PATCH v2 " Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-09 11:59 ` D. Ben Knoble
2026-09-08 22:20 ` [PATCH v2 1/2] push: check pushed ref for --force-if-includes Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-10 18:43 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-09-10 22:08 ` Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-08 22:20 ` [PATCH v2 2/2] push: fix --force-if-includes detached HEAD advice Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-10 23:05 ` [PATCH v3 0/2] push: fix --force-if-includes consulting wrong ref Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-10 23:05 ` [PATCH v3 1/2] push: check pushed ref for --force-if-includes Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-11 6:55 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-09-11 22:58 ` Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-11 15:31 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-09-11 23:47 ` Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-10 23:05 ` [PATCH v3 2/2] push: fix --force-if-includes detached HEAD advice Tyler Cipriani
2026-09-11 6:55 ` Patrick Steinhardt
2026-09-11 16:03 ` Junio C Hamano
2026-09-11 15:40 ` Junio C Hamano
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