diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index de116a29ef0..e5671f61c61 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -68,9 +68,31 @@ sq () {
 
 stop_here () {
     echo "$1" >"$dotest/next"
+    git rev-parse --verify -q HEAD >"$dotest/abort-safety"
     exit 1
 }
 
+safe_to_abort () {
+	if test -f "$dotest/dirtyindex"
+	then
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	if ! test -s "$dotest/abort-safety"
+	then
+		return 0
+	fi
+
+	abort_safety=$(cat "$dotest/abort-safety")
+	if test "z$(git rev-parse --verify -q HEAD)" = "z$abort_safety"
+	then
+		return 0
+	fi
+	echo >&2 "You seem to have moved HEAD since the last 'am' failure."
+	echo >&2 "Not rewinding to ORIG_HEAD"
+	return 1
+}
+
 stop_here_user_resolve () {
     if [ -n "$resolvemsg" ]; then
 	    printf '%s\n' "$resolvemsg"
@@ -419,10 +441,11 @@ then
 			exec git rebase --abort
 		fi
 		git rerere clear
-		test -f "$dotest/dirtyindex" || {
+		if safe_to_abort
+		then
 			git read-tree --reset -u HEAD ORIG_HEAD
 			git reset ORIG_HEAD
-		}
+		fi
 		rm -fr "$dotest"
 		exit ;;
 	esac
diff --git a/t/t4151-am-abort.sh b/t/t4151-am-abort.sh
index b55c4117884..c95c4ccc393 100755
--- a/t/t4151-am-abort.sh
+++ b/t/t4151-am-abort.sh
@@ -62,4 +62,13 @@ do
 
 done
 
+test_expect_success 'am --abort will keep the local commits intact' '
+	test_must_fail git am 0004-*.patch &&
+	test_commit unrelated &&
+	git rev-parse HEAD >expect &&
+	git am --abort &&
+	git rev-parse HEAD >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done