diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index e342974dc0..c9942f2400 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -116,30 +116,10 @@ call_merge () {
 }
 
 finish_rb_merge () {
-	if test -f "$dotest/stash"
-	then
-		stash=$(cat "$dotest/stash")
-		git stash apply --index "$stash"
-	fi
 	rm -r "$dotest"
 	echo "All done."
 }
 
-read_stash () {
-	if test -f "$1"
-	then
-		cat "$1"
-	fi
-}
-unstash_and_exit () {
-	err=$?
-	if test -f "$1" && test $err = 0
-	then
-		git stash apply --index "$1"
-	fi
-	exit $err
-}
-
 is_interactive () {
 	test -f "$dotest"/interactive ||
 	while case $#,"$1" in 0,|*,-i|*,--interactive) break ;; esac
@@ -174,9 +154,8 @@ do
 			finish_rb_merge
 			exit
 		fi
-		stash=$(read_stash ".dotest/stash")
 		git am --resolved --3way --resolvemsg="$RESOLVEMSG"
-		unstash_and_exit "$stash"
+		exit
 		;;
 	--skip)
 		if test -d "$dotest"
@@ -195,31 +174,21 @@ do
 			finish_rb_merge
 			exit
 		fi
-		stash=$(read_stash ".dotest/stash")
 		git am -3 --skip --resolvemsg="$RESOLVEMSG"
-		unstash_and_exit "$stash"
+		exit
 		;;
 	--abort)
 		git rerere clear
 		if test -d "$dotest"
 		then
-			if test -f "$dotest/stash"
-			then
-				stash=$(cat "$dotest/stash")
-			fi
 			rm -r "$dotest"
 		elif test -d .dotest
 		then
-			if test -f ".dotest/stash"
-			then
-				stash=$(cat ".dotest/stash")
-			fi
 			rm -r .dotest
 		else
 			die "No rebase in progress?"
 		fi
 		git reset --hard ORIG_HEAD
-		test -z "$stash" || git stash apply --index "$stash"
 		exit
 		;;
 	--onto)
@@ -285,6 +254,16 @@ else
 	fi
 fi
 
+# The tree must be really really clean.
+git update-index --refresh || exit
+diff=$(git diff-index --cached --name-status -r HEAD)
+case "$diff" in
+?*)	echo "cannot rebase: your index is not up-to-date"
+	echo "$diff"
+	exit 1
+	;;
+esac
+
 # The upstream head must be given.  Make sure it is valid.
 upstream_name="$1"
 upstream=`git rev-parse --verify "${upstream_name}^0"` ||
@@ -294,19 +273,11 @@ upstream=`git rev-parse --verify "${upstream_name}^0"` ||
 onto_name=${newbase-"$upstream_name"}
 onto=$(git rev-parse --verify "${onto_name}^0") || exit
 
-# The tree must be clean enough for us to create a stash
-stash=$(git stash create) || exit
-if test -n "$stash"
-then
-	echo >&2 "Stashed away your working tree changes"
-fi
-
 # If a hook exists, give it a chance to interrupt
 if test -x "$GIT_DIR/hooks/pre-rebase"
 then
 	"$GIT_DIR/hooks/pre-rebase" ${1+"$@"} || {
 		echo >&2 "The pre-rebase hook refused to rebase."
-		test -z "$stash" || git stash apply --index "$stash"
 		exit 1
 	}
 fi
@@ -315,10 +286,7 @@ fi
 case "$#" in
 2)
 	branch_name="$2"
-	git-checkout "$2" || {
-		test -z "$stash" || git stash apply --index "$stash"
-		usage
-	}
+	git-checkout "$2" || usage
 	;;
 *)
 	if branch_name=`git symbolic-ref -q HEAD`
@@ -341,7 +309,6 @@ if test "$upstream" = "$onto" && test "$mb" = "$onto" &&
 	! git rev-list --parents "$onto".."$branch" | grep " .* " > /dev/null
 then
 	echo >&2 "Current branch $branch_name is up to date."
-	test -z "$stash" || git stash apply --index "$stash"
 	exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -361,7 +328,6 @@ git-reset --hard "$onto"
 if test "$mb" = "$branch"
 then
 	echo >&2 "Fast-forwarded $branch_name to $onto_name."
-	test -z "$stash" || git stash apply --index "$stash"
 	exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -369,16 +335,7 @@ if test -z "$do_merge"
 then
 	git format-patch -k --stdout --full-index --ignore-if-in-upstream "$upstream"..ORIG_HEAD |
 	git am $git_am_opt --binary -3 -k --resolvemsg="$RESOLVEMSG"
-	err=$?
-
-	if test $err = 0
-	then
-		test -z "$stash" || git stash apply --index "$stash"
-		exit
-	else
-		test -z "$stash" || echo "$stash" >.dotest/stash
-		exit $err
-	fi
+	exit $?
 fi
 
 # start doing a rebase with git-merge
@@ -389,7 +346,6 @@ echo "$onto" > "$dotest/onto"
 echo "$onto_name" > "$dotest/onto_name"
 prev_head=`git rev-parse HEAD^0`
 echo "$prev_head" > "$dotest/prev_head"
-test -z "$stash" || echo "$stash" >"$dotest/stash"
 
 msgnum=0
 for cmt in `git rev-list --reverse --no-merges "$upstream"..ORIG_HEAD`