diff --git a/git-branch.sh b/git-branch.sh
index c61683033da84b6630aff7451f829040be9d5a37..bf84b30695fdeda5d5e18456813e0b3cc3d11275 100755
--- a/git-branch.sh
+++ b/git-branch.sh
@@ -121,16 +121,6 @@ then
 	done
 fi
 
-branchdir=$(dirname $branchname)
-while test "$branchdir" != "."
-do
-	if git-show-ref --verify --quiet -- "refs/heads/$branchdir"
-	then
-		die "$branchdir already exists."
-	fi
-	branchdir=$(dirname $branchdir)
-done
-
 prev=''
 if git-show-ref --verify --quiet -- "refs/heads/$branchname"
 then