diff --git a/Annex/AdjustedBranch.hs b/Annex/AdjustedBranch.hs
index b2ca7dbf64..8b4712db10 100644
--- a/Annex/AdjustedBranch.hs
+++ b/Annex/AdjustedBranch.hs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ module Annex.AdjustedBranch (
 	fromAdjustedBranch,
 	getAdjustment,
 	enterAdjustedBranch,
+	adjustToCrippledFileSystem,
 	updateAdjustedBranch,
 	propigateAdjustedCommits,
 ) where
@@ -151,6 +152,18 @@ enterAdjustedBranch adj = go =<< originalBranch
 			]
 	go Nothing = error "not on any branch!"
 
+adjustToCrippledFileSystem :: Annex ()
+adjustToCrippledFileSystem = do
+	warning "Entering an adjusted branch where files are unlocked as this filesystem does not support locked files."
+	whenM (isNothing <$> originalBranch) $
+		void $ inRepo $ Git.Branch.commitCommand Git.Branch.AutomaticCommit
+			[ Param "--quiet"
+			, Param "--allow-empty"
+			, Param "-m"
+			, Param "commit before entering adjusted unlocked branch"
+			]
+	enterAdjustedBranch UnlockAdjustment
+
 adjustBranch :: Adjustment -> OrigBranch -> Annex AdjBranch
 adjustBranch adj origbranch = do
 	sha <- adjust adj origbranch
diff --git a/Annex/Init.hs b/Annex/Init.hs
index 7501d9b8fe..99f8ece2c2 100644
--- a/Annex/Init.hs
+++ b/Annex/Init.hs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import Annex.UUID
 import Annex.Link
 import Config
 import Annex.Direct
+import Annex.AdjustedBranch
 import Annex.Environment
 import Annex.Hook
 import Annex.InodeSentinal
@@ -92,10 +93,13 @@ initialize' mversion = do
 	whenM versionSupportsUnlockedPointers $ do
 		configureSmudgeFilter
 		Database.Keys.scanAssociatedFiles
-	ifM (crippledFileSystem <&&> (not <$> isBare) <&&> (not <$> versionSupportsUnlockedPointers))
-		( do
-			enableDirectMode
-			setDirect True
+	ifM (crippledFileSystem <&&> (not <$> isBare))
+		( ifM versionSupportsUnlockedPointers
+			( adjustToCrippledFileSystem
+			, do
+				enableDirectMode
+				setDirect True
+			)
 		-- Handle case where this repo was cloned from a
 		-- direct mode repo
 		, unlessM isBare
diff --git a/Command/Adjust.hs b/Command/Adjust.hs
index 2ea39edd24..3f3fd0d825 100644
--- a/Command/Adjust.hs
+++ b/Command/Adjust.hs
@@ -36,5 +36,6 @@ start :: Adjustment -> CommandStart
 start adj = do
 	unlessM versionSupportsAdjustedBranch $
 		error "Adjusted branches are only supported in v6 or newer repositories."
+	showStart "adjust" ""
 	enterAdjustedBranch adj
 	next $ next $ return True
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 62caa20d14..f8cd5020c2 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ git-annex (6.20160319) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
 
   * adjust --unlock: Enters an adjusted branch in which all annexed files
     are unlocked. The v6 equivilant of direct mode, but much cleaner!
+  * init --version=6: Automatically enter the adjusted unlocked branch
+    when filesystem doesn't support symlinks.
   * ddar remote: fix ssh calls
     Thanks, Robie Basak
 
diff --git a/doc/todo/smudge.mdwn b/doc/todo/smudge.mdwn
index c615f8f140..a80869dc0f 100644
--- a/doc/todo/smudge.mdwn
+++ b/doc/todo/smudge.mdwn
@@ -23,12 +23,6 @@ git-annex should use smudge/clean filters.
   (May need to use libgit2 to do this efficiently, cannot find
   any plumbing except git-update-index, which is very inneficient for
   smudged files.)
-* Crippled filesystem should cause all files to be transparently unlocked.
-  Note that this presents problems when dealing with merge conflicts and
-  when pushing changes committed in such a repo. Ideally, should avoid
-  committing implicit unlocks, or should prevent such commits leaking out
-  in pushes. See [[design/adjusted_branches]].
-
 * Eventually (but not yet), make v6 the default for new repositories.
   Note that the assistant forces repos into direct mode; that will need to
   be changed then, and it should enable annex.thin instead.