diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0901e12..2b87679 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,6 +66,17 @@ cy.contains('Accept cookies')
   .log('no cookie banner')
 ```
 
+The subject from the `.if()` command will be passed to the `.else()` chain, this allows you to work with the original element:
+
+```js
+cy.get('#enrolled')
+  .if('checked')
+  .log('**already enrolled**')
+  // the checkbox should be passed into .else()
+  .else()
+  .check()
+```
+
 ## Debugging
 
 This module uses [debug](https://github.com/debug-js/debug#readme) module to output verbose browser console messages when needed. To turn the logging on, open the browser's DevTools console and set the local storage entry:
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/checked.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/checked.cy.js
index 3437cdf..2a09d3d 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/checked.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/checked.cy.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe('checkbox', () => {
       cy.get('#enrolled').should('be.checked')
     })
 
-    it.skip('passes the subject to the else() branch', () => {
+    it('passes the subject to the else() branch', () => {
       cy.visit('cypress/checkbox.html')
       cy.get('#enrolled')
         .if('checked')
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/wrap.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/wrap.cy.js
index cf9f89c..9904451 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/wrap.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/wrap.cy.js
@@ -12,4 +12,14 @@ describe('wrapped value', () => {
     cy.wrap(1).if('equal', 42).then(cy.spy().as('action')).then(cy.log)
     cy.get('@action').should('not.have.been.called')
   })
+
+  context('.else', () => {
+    it('passes the subject to the else branch', () => {
+      cy.wrap(1).if('equal', 42).log('if branch').else().should('equal', 1)
+    })
+
+    it('passes the subject if().else()', () => {
+      cy.wrap(1).if('equal', 42).else().should('equal', 1)
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 368777a..ad20f33 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ function skipRestOfTheChain(cmd) {
   }
 }
 
+function findMyIfSubject(elseCommandAttributes) {
+  if (!elseCommandAttributes) {
+    return
+  }
+  if (elseCommandAttributes.name === 'if') {
+    return elseCommandAttributes.ifSubject
+  }
+  if (elseCommandAttributes.prev) {
+    return findMyIfSubject(elseCommandAttributes.prev.attributes)
+  }
+}
+
 Cypress.Commands.add(
   'if',
   { prevSubject: true },
@@ -21,6 +33,11 @@ Cypress.Commands.add(
     const cmd = cy.state('current')
     debug('if', cmd.attributes, 'subject', subject, 'assertion?', assertion)
     debug('next command', cmd.next)
+    debug('if() current subject', cy.currentSubject())
+    // console.log('subjects', cy.state('subjects'))
+    // keep the subject, if there is an "else" branch
+    // it can look it up to use
+    cmd.attributes.ifSubject = subject
 
     const hasSubject = Boolean(subject)
     let assertionsPassed = true
@@ -116,7 +133,16 @@ Cypress.Commands.add(
 )
 
 Cypress.Commands.add('else', { prevSubject: true }, (subject) => {
-  debug('else command, subject', subject)
+  // debug('else command, subject', subject)
+  // debug('current subject', cy.currentSubject())
+  // debug('current command attributes', cy.state('current').attributes)
+  // console.log('subjects', cy.state('subjects'))
+  // debugger
+  debugger
+  if (typeof subject === 'undefined') {
+    // find the subject from the "if()" before
+    subject = findMyIfSubject(cy.state('current').attributes)
+  }
   if (subject) {
     cy.wrap(subject, { log: false })
   }