diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index 45fc56216a..d9ef7f0748 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -1309,10 +1309,14 @@ char *get_head_description(void)
 	memset(&state, 0, sizeof(state));
 	wt_status_get_state(&state, 1);
 	if (state.rebase_in_progress ||
-	    state.rebase_interactive_in_progress)
-		strbuf_addf(&desc, _("(no branch, rebasing %s)"),
-			    state.branch);
-	else if (state.bisect_in_progress)
+	    state.rebase_interactive_in_progress) {
+		if (state.branch)
+			strbuf_addf(&desc, _("(no branch, rebasing %s)"),
+				    state.branch);
+		else
+			strbuf_addf(&desc, _("(no branch, rebasing detached HEAD %s)"),
+				    state.detached_from);
+	} else if (state.bisect_in_progress)
 		strbuf_addf(&desc, _("(no branch, bisect started on %s)"),
 			    state.branch);
 	else if (state.detached_from) {