diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index 57f36ce8dd..02113263e3 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -446,9 +446,9 @@ apply_to_branch () {
 	assert_stash_like "$@"
 
 	git checkout -b $branch $REV^ &&
-	apply_stash "$@"
-
-	test -z "$IS_STASH_REF" || drop_stash "$@"
+	apply_stash "$@" && {
+		test -z "$IS_STASH_REF" || drop_stash "$@"
+	}
 }
 
 PARSE_CACHE='--not-parsed'
diff --git a/t/t3903-stash.sh b/t/t3903-stash.sh
index 4215cc6986..903a122efe 100755
--- a/t/t3903-stash.sh
+++ b/t/t3903-stash.sh
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid ref of the form stash@{n}, n >= N' '
 	git stash drop
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'stash branch should not drop the stash if the branch exists' '
+test_expect_success 'stash branch should not drop the stash if the branch exists' '
 	git stash clear &&
 	echo foo >file &&
 	git add file &&