diff --git a/Command/Proxy.hs b/Command/Proxy.hs
index 97cfafeaf2..d38a94b46b 100644
--- a/Command/Proxy.hs
+++ b/Command/Proxy.hs
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ start (c:ps) = liftIO . exitWith =<< ifM isDirect
   where
 	go tmp = do
 		oldref <- fromMaybe Git.Sha.emptyTree
-			<$> inRepo Git.Ref.headSha
+			<$> (inRepo . maybe Git.Ref.headSha Git.Ref.sha
+				=<< inRepo Git.Branch.currentUnsafe)
 		
 		setuptmpworktree tmp
 		exitcode <- proxy tmp
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 3470f5ce4e..d154787966 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ git-annex (5.20150732) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
   * proxy: If a non-proxied git command, such as git revert
     would normally fail because of unstaged files in the work tree,
     make the proxied command fail the same way.
+  * proxy: Fix removal of files deleted by the proxied command.
 
  -- Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>  Fri, 31 Jul 2015 12:31:39 -0400