diff --git a/lib/bup/git.py b/lib/bup/git.py
index 6a5135470..fc03fe6d9 100644
--- a/lib/bup/git.py
+++ b/lib/bup/git.py
@@ -399,7 +399,10 @@ def refresh(self, skip_midx = False):
                                 log(('warning: index %s missing\n' +
                                     '  used by %s\n') % (n, mxf))
                                 broken += 1
-                        if not broken:
+                        if broken:
+                            del mx
+                            unlink(full)
+                        else:
                             midxl.append(mx)
                 midxl.sort(lambda x,y: -cmp(len(x),len(y)))
                 for ix in midxl: