diff --git a/Documentation/git-stash.txt b/Documentation/git-stash.txt
index db7e803038..7c8b648fbe 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-stash.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-stash.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ SYNOPSIS
 'git stash' ( pop | apply ) [--index] [-q|--quiet] [<stash>]
 'git stash' branch <branchname> [<stash>]
 'git stash' [save [-p|--patch] [-k|--[no-]keep-index] [-q|--quiet]
-	     [-u|--include-untracked] [-a|--all] [<message>]]
+	     [-u|--include-untracked] [-a|--all] [-f|--force]
+	     [<message>]]
 'git stash' clear
 'git stash' create [<message>]
 'git stash' store [-m|--message <message>] [-q|--quiet] <commit>
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ is also possible).
 OPTIONS
 -------
 
-save [-p|--patch] [--[no-]keep-index] [-u|--include-untracked] [-a|--all] [-q|--quiet] [<message>]::
+save [-p|--patch] [--[no-]keep-index] [-u|--include-untracked] [-a|--all] [-q|--quiet] [-f|--force] [<message>]::
 
 	Save your local modifications to a new 'stash', and run `git reset
 	--hard` to revert them.  The <message> part is optional and gives
@@ -71,6 +72,13 @@ linkgit:git-add[1] to learn how to operate the `--patch` mode.
 +
 The `--patch` option implies `--keep-index`.  You can use
 `--no-keep-index` to override this.
++
+In some cases, saving a stash could mean irretrievably removing some
+data - if a directory with untracked files replaces a tracked file of
+the same name, the new untracked files are not saved (except in case
+of `--include-untracked`) but the original tracked file shall be restored.
+By default, `stash save` will abort in such a case; `--force` will allow
+it to remove the untracked files.
 
 list [<options>]::
 
diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index 1e541a2125..85c9e2c081 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ save_stash () {
 	keep_index=
 	patch_mode=
 	untracked=
+	force=
 	while test $# != 0
 	do
 		case "$1" in
@@ -215,6 +216,9 @@ save_stash () {
 		-u|--include-untracked)
 			untracked=untracked
 			;;
+		-f|--force)
+			force=t
+			;;
 		-a|--all)
 			untracked=all
 			;;
@@ -258,6 +262,14 @@ save_stash () {
 		say "$(gettext "No local changes to save")"
 		exit 0
 	fi
+	if test -z "$untracked$force" &&
+	   test -n "$(git ls-files --killed | head -n 1)"
+	then
+		say "$(gettext "The following untracked files would NOT be saved but need to be removed by stash save:")"
+		test -n "$GIT_QUIET" || git ls-files --killed | sed 's/^/\t/'
+		say "$(gettext "Aborting. Consider using either the --force or --include-untracked option.")" >&2
+		exit 1
+	fi
 	test -f "$GIT_DIR/logs/$ref_stash" ||
 		clear_stash || die "$(gettext "Cannot initialize stash")"
 
diff --git a/t/t3903-stash.sh b/t/t3903-stash.sh
index debda7a678..5d22f17ca2 100755
--- a/t/t3903-stash.sh
+++ b/t/t3903-stash.sh
@@ -673,4 +673,22 @@ test_expect_success 'store updates stash ref and reflog' '
 	grep quux bazzy
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'stash a change to turn a non-directory to a directory' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	>testfile &&
+	git add testfile &&
+	git commit -m "add testfile as a regular file" &&
+	rm testfile &&
+	mkdir testfile &&
+	>testfile/file &&
+	test_must_fail git stash save "recover regular file" &&
+	test -f testfile/file
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stash a change to turn a non-directory to a directory (forced)' '
+	git stash save --force "recover regular file (forced)" &&
+	! test -f testfile/file &&
+	test -f testfile
+'
+
 test_done