diff --git a/archive.c b/archive.c
index fb39706120..0de6048bfc 100644
--- a/archive.c
+++ b/archive.c
@@ -397,10 +397,10 @@ static void parse_treeish_arg(const char **argv,
 		const char *colon = strchrnul(name, ':');
 		int refnamelen = colon - name;
 
-		if (!dwim_ref(name, refnamelen, &oid, &ref))
+		if (!dwim_ref(name, refnamelen, &oid, &ref, 0))
 			die(_("no such ref: %.*s"), refnamelen, name);
 	} else {
-		dwim_ref(name, strlen(name), &oid, &ref);
+		dwim_ref(name, strlen(name), &oid, &ref, 0);
 	}
 
 	if (get_oid(name, &oid))
diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 7095f78058..9c9dae1eae 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ void create_branch(struct repository *r,
 		die(_("Not a valid object name: '%s'."), start_name);
 	}
 
-	switch (dwim_ref(start_name, strlen(start_name), &oid, &real_ref)) {
+	switch (dwim_ref(start_name, strlen(start_name), &oid, &real_ref, 0)) {
 	case 0:
 		/* Not branching from any existing branch */
 		if (explicit_tracking)
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 6ec82097a2..0951f8fee5 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ static void setup_branch_path(struct branch_info *branch)
 	 * If this is a ref, resolve it; otherwise, look up the OID for our
 	 * expression.  Failure here is okay.
 	 */
-	if (!dwim_ref(branch->name, strlen(branch->name), &branch->oid, &branch->refname))
+	if (!dwim_ref(branch->name, strlen(branch->name), &branch->oid, &branch->refname, 0))
 		repo_get_oid_committish(the_repository, branch->name, &branch->oid);
 
 	strbuf_branchname(&buf, branch->name, INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL);
@@ -1345,7 +1345,7 @@ static void die_expecting_a_branch(const struct branch_info *branch_info)
 	struct object_id oid;
 	char *to_free;
 
-	if (dwim_ref(branch_info->name, strlen(branch_info->name), &oid, &to_free) == 1) {
+	if (dwim_ref(branch_info->name, strlen(branch_info->name), &oid, &to_free, 0) == 1) {
 		const char *ref = to_free;
 
 		if (skip_prefix(ref, "refs/tags/", &ref))
diff --git a/builtin/fast-export.c b/builtin/fast-export.c
index 9f37895d4c..1b8fca3ee0 100644
--- a/builtin/fast-export.c
+++ b/builtin/fast-export.c
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ static void get_tags_and_duplicates(struct rev_cmdline_info *info)
 		if (e->flags & UNINTERESTING)
 			continue;
 
-		if (dwim_ref(e->name, strlen(e->name), &oid, &full_name) != 1)
+		if (dwim_ref(e->name, strlen(e->name), &oid, &full_name, 0) != 1)
 			continue;
 
 		if (refspecs.nr) {
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index b58f8da09e..4ec7f57cf4 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ static char *find_branch_name(struct rev_info *rev)
 		return NULL;
 	ref = rev->cmdline.rev[positive].name;
 	tip_oid = &rev->cmdline.rev[positive].item->oid;
-	if (dwim_ref(ref, strlen(ref), &branch_oid, &full_ref) &&
+	if (dwim_ref(ref, strlen(ref), &branch_oid, &full_ref, 0) &&
 	    skip_prefix(full_ref, "refs/heads/", &v) &&
 	    oideq(tip_oid, &branch_oid))
 		branch = xstrdup(v);
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index b9a89ba858..032a8f5434 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ static void merge_name(const char *remote, struct strbuf *msg)
 	if (!remote_head)
 		die(_("'%s' does not point to a commit"), remote);
 
-	if (dwim_ref(remote, strlen(remote), &branch_head, &found_ref) > 0) {
+	if (dwim_ref(remote, strlen(remote), &branch_head, &found_ref, 0) > 0) {
 		if (starts_with(found_ref, "refs/heads/")) {
 			strbuf_addf(msg, "%s\t\tbranch '%s' of .\n",
 				    oid_to_hex(&branch_head), remote);
diff --git a/builtin/reset.c b/builtin/reset.c
index 8ae69d6f2b..c635b062c3 100644
--- a/builtin/reset.c
+++ b/builtin/reset.c
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ int cmd_reset(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			char *ref = NULL;
 			int err;
 
-			dwim_ref(rev, strlen(rev), &dummy, &ref);
+			dwim_ref(rev, strlen(rev), &dummy, &ref, 0);
 			if (ref && !starts_with(ref, "refs/"))
 				ref = NULL;
 
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 669dd2fd6f..ed200c8af1 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ static void show_rev(int type, const struct object_id *oid, const char *name)
 			struct object_id discard;
 			char *full;
 
-			switch (dwim_ref(name, strlen(name), &discard, &full)) {
+			switch (dwim_ref(name, strlen(name), &discard, &full, 0)) {
 			case 0:
 				/*
 				 * Not found -- not a ref.  We could
diff --git a/builtin/show-branch.c b/builtin/show-branch.c
index 7eae5f3801..d6d2dabeca 100644
--- a/builtin/show-branch.c
+++ b/builtin/show-branch.c
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ int cmd_show_branch(int ac, const char **av, const char *prefix)
 			die(Q_("only %d entry can be shown at one time.",
 			       "only %d entries can be shown at one time.",
 			       MAX_REVS), MAX_REVS);
-		if (!dwim_ref(*av, strlen(*av), &oid, &ref))
+		if (!dwim_ref(*av, strlen(*av), &oid, &ref, 0))
 			die(_("no such ref %s"), *av);
 
 		/* Has the base been specified? */
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index 4bdfaf8397..3f811f3050 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static int get_stash_info(struct stash_info *info, int argc, const char **argv)
 	end_of_rev = strchrnul(revision, '@');
 	strbuf_add(&symbolic, revision, end_of_rev - revision);
 
-	ret = dwim_ref(symbolic.buf, symbolic.len, &dummy, &expanded_ref);
+	ret = dwim_ref(symbolic.buf, symbolic.len, &dummy, &expanded_ref, 0);
 	strbuf_release(&symbolic);
 	switch (ret) {
 	case 0: /* Not found, but valid ref */
diff --git a/bundle.c b/bundle.c
index 995a940dfd..cb0e5931ac 100644
--- a/bundle.c
+++ b/bundle.c
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ static int write_bundle_refs(int bundle_fd, struct rev_info *revs)
 
 		if (e->item->flags & UNINTERESTING)
 			continue;
-		if (dwim_ref(e->name, strlen(e->name), &oid, &ref) != 1)
+		if (dwim_ref(e->name, strlen(e->name), &oid, &ref, 0) != 1)
 			goto skip_write_ref;
 		if (read_ref_full(e->name, RESOLVE_REF_READING, &oid, &flag))
 			flag = 0;
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 4cad61ffa4..cee8aa5dc3 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1557,21 +1557,32 @@ int parse_oid_hex_any(const char *hex, struct object_id *oid, const char **end);
  *
  * If the input was ok but there are not N branch switches in the
  * reflog, it returns 0.
- *
- * If "allowed" is non-zero, it is a treated as a bitfield of allowable
- * expansions: local branches ("refs/heads/"), remote branches
- * ("refs/remotes/"), or "HEAD". If no "allowed" bits are set, any expansion is
- * allowed, even ones to refs outside of those namespaces.
  */
 #define INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL (1<<0)
 #define INTERPRET_BRANCH_REMOTE (1<<1)
 #define INTERPRET_BRANCH_HEAD (1<<2)
+struct interpret_branch_name_options {
+	/*
+	 * If "allowed" is non-zero, it is a treated as a bitfield of allowable
+	 * expansions: local branches ("refs/heads/"), remote branches
+	 * ("refs/remotes/"), or "HEAD". If no "allowed" bits are set, any expansion is
+	 * allowed, even ones to refs outside of those namespaces.
+	 */
+	unsigned allowed;
+
+	/*
+	 * If ^{upstream} or ^{push} (or equivalent) is requested, and the
+	 * branch in question does not have such a reference, return -1 instead
+	 * of die()-ing.
+	 */
+	unsigned nonfatal_dangling_mark : 1;
+};
 int repo_interpret_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 			       const char *str, int len,
 			       struct strbuf *buf,
-			       unsigned allowed);
-#define interpret_branch_name(str, len, buf, allowed) \
-	repo_interpret_branch_name(the_repository, str, len, buf, allowed)
+			       const struct interpret_branch_name_options *options);
+#define interpret_branch_name(str, len, buf, options) \
+	repo_interpret_branch_name(the_repository, str, len, buf, options)
 
 int validate_headref(const char *ref);
 
diff --git a/commit.c b/commit.c
index bc741e78ad..f53429c0ac 100644
--- a/commit.c
+++ b/commit.c
@@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ struct commit *get_fork_point(const char *refname, struct commit *commit)
 	struct commit *ret = NULL;
 	char *full_refname;
 
-	switch (dwim_ref(refname, strlen(refname), &oid, &full_refname)) {
+	switch (dwim_ref(refname, strlen(refname), &oid, &full_refname, 0)) {
 	case 0:
 		die("No such ref: '%s'", refname);
 	case 1:
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 156fdcd459..8374dfefa6 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -598,10 +598,14 @@ const char *git_default_branch_name(void)
  * to name a branch.
  */
 static char *substitute_branch_name(struct repository *r,
-				    const char **string, int *len)
+				    const char **string, int *len,
+				    int nonfatal_dangling_mark)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret = repo_interpret_branch_name(r, *string, *len, &buf, 0);
+	struct interpret_branch_name_options options = {
+		.nonfatal_dangling_mark = nonfatal_dangling_mark
+	};
+	int ret = repo_interpret_branch_name(r, *string, *len, &buf, &options);
 
 	if (ret == *len) {
 		size_t size;
@@ -614,19 +618,15 @@ static char *substitute_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 }
 
 int repo_dwim_ref(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len,
-		  struct object_id *oid, char **ref)
+		  struct object_id *oid, char **ref, int nonfatal_dangling_mark)
 {
-	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(r, &str, &len);
+	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(r, &str, &len,
+						   nonfatal_dangling_mark);
 	int   refs_found  = expand_ref(r, str, len, oid, ref);
 	free(last_branch);
 	return refs_found;
 }
 
-int dwim_ref(const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid, char **ref)
-{
-	return repo_dwim_ref(the_repository, str, len, oid, ref);
-}
-
 int expand_ref(struct repository *repo, const char *str, int len,
 	       struct object_id *oid, char **ref)
 {
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ int repo_dwim_log(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len,
 		  struct object_id *oid, char **log)
 {
 	struct ref_store *refs = get_main_ref_store(r);
-	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(r, &str, &len);
+	char *last_branch = substitute_branch_name(r, &str, &len, 0);
 	const char **p;
 	int logs_found = 0;
 	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 04bd25019f..6695518156 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef REFS_H
 #define REFS_H
 
+#include "cache.h"
+
 struct object_id;
 struct ref_store;
 struct repository;
@@ -151,9 +153,15 @@ struct strvec;
 void expand_ref_prefix(struct strvec *prefixes, const char *prefix);
 
 int expand_ref(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid, char **ref);
-int repo_dwim_ref(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid, char **ref);
+int repo_dwim_ref(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len,
+		  struct object_id *oid, char **ref, int nonfatal_dangling_mark);
 int repo_dwim_log(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid, char **ref);
-int dwim_ref(const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid, char **ref);
+static inline int dwim_ref(const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid,
+			   char **ref, int nonfatal_dangling_mark)
+{
+	return repo_dwim_ref(the_repository, str, len, oid, ref,
+			     nonfatal_dangling_mark);
+}
 int dwim_log(const char *str, int len, struct object_id *oid, char **ref);
 
 /*
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index c5ed74f91c..420150837b 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -1558,7 +1558,7 @@ static void set_merge(struct branch *ret)
 		    strcmp(ret->remote_name, "."))
 			continue;
 		if (dwim_ref(ret->merge_name[i], strlen(ret->merge_name[i]),
-			     &oid, &ref) == 1)
+			     &oid, &ref, 0) == 1)
 			ret->merge[i]->dst = ref;
 		else
 			ret->merge[i]->dst = xstrdup(ret->merge_name[i]);
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 0d67b842fd..1239023f93 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -315,13 +315,14 @@ static void add_pending_object_with_path(struct rev_info *revs,
 					 const char *name, unsigned mode,
 					 const char *path)
 {
+	struct interpret_branch_name_options options = { 0 };
 	if (!obj)
 		return;
 	if (revs->no_walk && (obj->flags & UNINTERESTING))
 		revs->no_walk = 0;
 	if (revs->reflog_info && obj->type == OBJ_COMMIT) {
 		struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
-		int len = interpret_branch_name(name, 0, &buf, 0);
+		int len = interpret_branch_name(name, 0, &buf, &options);
 
 		if (0 < len && name[len] && buf.len)
 			strbuf_addstr(&buf, name + len);
diff --git a/sha1-name.c b/sha1-name.c
index 0b8cb5247a..0b23b86ceb 100644
--- a/sha1-name.c
+++ b/sha1-name.c
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ static int get_oid_basic(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len,
 
 	if (len == r->hash_algo->hexsz && !get_oid_hex(str, oid)) {
 		if (warn_ambiguous_refs && warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity) {
-			refs_found = repo_dwim_ref(r, str, len, &tmp_oid, &real_ref);
+			refs_found = repo_dwim_ref(r, str, len, &tmp_oid, &real_ref, 0);
 			if (refs_found > 0) {
 				warning(warn_msg, len, str);
 				if (advice_object_name_warning)
@@ -860,11 +860,11 @@ static int get_oid_basic(struct repository *r, const char *str, int len,
 
 	if (!len && reflog_len)
 		/* allow "@{...}" to mean the current branch reflog */
-		refs_found = repo_dwim_ref(r, "HEAD", 4, oid, &real_ref);
+		refs_found = repo_dwim_ref(r, "HEAD", 4, oid, &real_ref, 0);
 	else if (reflog_len)
 		refs_found = repo_dwim_log(r, str, len, oid, &real_ref);
 	else
-		refs_found = repo_dwim_ref(r, str, len, oid, &real_ref);
+		refs_found = repo_dwim_ref(r, str, len, oid, &real_ref, 0);
 
 	if (!refs_found)
 		return -1;
@@ -1427,9 +1427,12 @@ static int reinterpret(struct repository *r,
 	struct strbuf tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int used = buf->len;
 	int ret;
+	struct interpret_branch_name_options options = {
+		.allowed = allowed
+	};
 
 	strbuf_add(buf, name + len, namelen - len);
-	ret = repo_interpret_branch_name(r, buf->buf, buf->len, &tmp, allowed);
+	ret = repo_interpret_branch_name(r, buf->buf, buf->len, &tmp, &options);
 	/* that data was not interpreted, remove our cruft */
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		strbuf_setlen(buf, used);
@@ -1471,7 +1474,7 @@ static int interpret_branch_mark(struct repository *r,
 				 int (*get_mark)(const char *, int),
 				 const char *(*get_data)(struct branch *,
 							 struct strbuf *),
-				 unsigned allowed)
+				 const struct interpret_branch_name_options *options)
 {
 	int len;
 	struct branch *branch;
@@ -1493,10 +1496,16 @@ static int interpret_branch_mark(struct repository *r,
 		branch = branch_get(NULL);
 
 	value = get_data(branch, &err);
-	if (!value)
-		die("%s", err.buf);
+	if (!value) {
+		if (options->nonfatal_dangling_mark) {
+			strbuf_release(&err);
+			return -1;
+		} else {
+			die("%s", err.buf);
+		}
+	}
 
-	if (!branch_interpret_allowed(value, allowed))
+	if (!branch_interpret_allowed(value, options->allowed))
 		return -1;
 
 	set_shortened_ref(r, buf, value);
@@ -1506,7 +1515,7 @@ static int interpret_branch_mark(struct repository *r,
 int repo_interpret_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 			       const char *name, int namelen,
 			       struct strbuf *buf,
-			       unsigned allowed)
+			       const struct interpret_branch_name_options *options)
 {
 	char *at;
 	const char *start;
@@ -1515,7 +1524,7 @@ int repo_interpret_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 	if (!namelen)
 		namelen = strlen(name);
 
-	if (!allowed || (allowed & INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL)) {
+	if (!options->allowed || (options->allowed & INTERPRET_BRANCH_LOCAL)) {
 		len = interpret_nth_prior_checkout(r, name, namelen, buf);
 		if (!len) {
 			return len; /* syntax Ok, not enough switches */
@@ -1523,7 +1532,8 @@ int repo_interpret_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 			if (len == namelen)
 				return len; /* consumed all */
 			else
-				return reinterpret(r, name, namelen, len, buf, allowed);
+				return reinterpret(r, name, namelen, len, buf,
+						   options->allowed);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1531,22 +1541,22 @@ int repo_interpret_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 	     (at = memchr(start, '@', namelen - (start - name)));
 	     start = at + 1) {
 
-		if (!allowed || (allowed & INTERPRET_BRANCH_HEAD)) {
+		if (!options->allowed || (options->allowed & INTERPRET_BRANCH_HEAD)) {
 			len = interpret_empty_at(name, namelen, at - name, buf);
 			if (len > 0)
 				return reinterpret(r, name, namelen, len, buf,
-						   allowed);
+						   options->allowed);
 		}
 
 		len = interpret_branch_mark(r, name, namelen, at - name, buf,
 					    upstream_mark, branch_get_upstream,
-					    allowed);
+					    options);
 		if (len > 0)
 			return len;
 
 		len = interpret_branch_mark(r, name, namelen, at - name, buf,
 					    push_mark, branch_get_push,
-					    allowed);
+					    options);
 		if (len > 0)
 			return len;
 	}
@@ -1557,7 +1567,10 @@ int repo_interpret_branch_name(struct repository *r,
 void strbuf_branchname(struct strbuf *sb, const char *name, unsigned allowed)
 {
 	int len = strlen(name);
-	int used = interpret_branch_name(name, len, sb, allowed);
+	struct interpret_branch_name_options options = {
+		.allowed = allowed
+	};
+	int used = interpret_branch_name(name, len, sb, &options);
 
 	if (used < 0)
 		used = 0;
diff --git a/t/t7508-status.sh b/t/t7508-status.sh
index e81759319f..45e1f6ff68 100755
--- a/t/t7508-status.sh
+++ b/t/t7508-status.sh
@@ -846,6 +846,18 @@ test_expect_success 'status refreshes the index' '
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'status shows detached HEAD properly after checking out non-local upstream branch' '
+	test_when_finished rm -rf upstream downstream actual &&
+
+	test_create_repo upstream &&
+	test_commit -C upstream foo &&
+
+	git clone upstream downstream &&
+	git -C downstream checkout @{u} &&
+	git -C downstream status >actual &&
+	test_i18ngrep "HEAD detached at [0-9a-f]\\+" actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'setup status submodule summary' '
 	test_create_repo sm && (
 		cd sm &&
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index bb0f9120de..d9872d543b 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -1569,7 +1569,7 @@ static void wt_status_get_detached_from(struct repository *r,
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (dwim_ref(cb.buf.buf, cb.buf.len, &oid, &ref) == 1 &&
+	if (dwim_ref(cb.buf.buf, cb.buf.len, &oid, &ref, 1) == 1 &&
 	    /* sha1 is a commit? match without further lookup */
 	    (oideq(&cb.noid, &oid) ||
 	     /* perhaps sha1 is a tag, try to dereference to a commit */