diff --git a/builtin-checkout.c b/builtin-checkout.c
index dc4bfb5fc08d51644435f158e3b07ffe518ac419..f2d7ef01b0bbe667ae8042f7a806a634fa0aa46b 100644
--- a/builtin-checkout.c
+++ b/builtin-checkout.c
@@ -541,14 +541,6 @@ static int switch_branches(struct checkout_opts *opts, struct branch_info *new)
 		parse_commit(new->commit);
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * If we were on a detached HEAD, but we are now moving to
-	 * 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 && old.commit && new->commit != old.commit)
-		describe_detached_head("Previous HEAD position was", old.commit);
-
 	if (!old.commit && !opts->force) {
 		if (!opts->quiet) {
 			warning("You appear to be on a branch yet to be born.");
@@ -561,6 +553,14 @@ static int switch_branches(struct checkout_opts *opts, struct branch_info *new)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
+	/*
+	 * If we were on a detached HEAD, but have now moved to
+	 * 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 && old.commit && new->commit != old.commit)
+		describe_detached_head("Previous HEAD position was", old.commit);
+
 	update_refs_for_switch(opts, &old, new);
 
 	ret = post_checkout_hook(old.commit, new->commit, 1);