diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 81b4419da51f32..79f4495a2d08fb 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 				   struct branch_info *new)
 {
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
-	const char *old_desc;
+	const char *old_desc, *reflog_msg;
 	if (opts->new_branch) {
 		if (opts->new_orphan_branch) {
 			if (opts->new_branch_log && !log_all_ref_updates) {
@@ -620,8 +620,13 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	old_desc = old->name;
 	if (!old_desc && old->commit)
 		old_desc = sha1_to_hex(old->commit->object.sha1);
-	strbuf_addf(&msg, "checkout: moving from %s to %s",
-		    old_desc ? old_desc : "(invalid)", new->name);
+
+	reflog_msg = getenv("GIT_REFLOG_ACTION");
+	if (!reflog_msg)
+		strbuf_addf(&msg, "checkout: moving from %s to %s",
+			old_desc ? old_desc : "(invalid)", new->name);
+	else
+		strbuf_insert(&msg, 0, reflog_msg, strlen(reflog_msg));
 
 	if (!strcmp(new->name, "HEAD") && !new->path && !opts->force_detach) {
 		/* Nothing to do. */
diff --git a/t/t2012-checkout-last.sh b/t/t2012-checkout-last.sh
index 6ad6edf0f9a9ff..e7ba8c505f579a 100755
--- a/t/t2012-checkout-last.sh
+++ b/t/t2012-checkout-last.sh
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ test_expect_success 'master...' '
 	test "z$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD)" = "z$(git rev-parse --verify master^)"
 '
 
-test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase A' '
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" works after a rebase A' '
 	git checkout master &&
 	git checkout other &&
 	git rebase master &&
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase A' '
 	test "z$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "zrefs/heads/master"
 '
 
-test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase A B' '
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" works after a rebase A B' '
 	git branch moodle master~1 &&
 	git checkout master &&
 	git checkout other &&
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase A B' '
 	test "z$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "zrefs/heads/master"
 '
 
-test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase -i A' '
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" works after a rebase -i A' '
 	git checkout master &&
 	git checkout other &&
 	git rebase -i master &&
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase -i A' '
 	test "z$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "zrefs/heads/master"
 '
 
-test_expect_failure '"checkout -" works after a rebase -i A B' '
+test_expect_success '"checkout -" works after a rebase -i A B' '
 	git branch foodle master~1 &&
 	git checkout master &&
 	git checkout other &&