diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 3e141fc149..d34f58eba6 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ static int parse_branchname_arg(int argc, const char **argv,
 		 */
 		int recover_with_dwim = dwim_new_local_branch_ok;
 
-		if (check_filename(NULL, arg) && !has_dash_dash)
+		if (!has_dash_dash && check_filename(NULL, arg))
 			recover_with_dwim = 0;
 		/*
 		 * Accept "git checkout foo" and "git checkout foo --"