diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index 1cf3d1dacf..9f4450916c 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -506,6 +506,23 @@ then
 	esac
 	rm -f "$dotest/dirtyindex"
 else
+	# Possible stray $dotest directory in the independent-run
+	# case; in the --rebasing case, it is upto the caller
+	# (git-rebase--am) to take care of stray directories.
+	if test -d "$dotest" && test -z "$rebasing"
+	then
+		case "$skip,$resolved,$abort" in
+		,,t)
+			rm -fr "$dotest"
+			exit 0
+			;;
+		*)
+			die "$(eval_gettext "Stray \$dotest directory found.
+Use \"git am --abort\" to remove it.")"
+			;;
+		esac
+	fi
+
 	# Make sure we are not given --skip, --resolved, nor --abort
 	test "$skip$resolved$abort" = "" ||
 		die "$(gettext "Resolve operation not in progress, we are not resuming.")"
diff --git a/t/t4150-am.sh b/t/t4150-am.sh
index 12f6b027ac..6c2cc3e5d7 100755
--- a/t/t4150-am.sh
+++ b/t/t4150-am.sh
@@ -363,6 +363,12 @@ test_expect_success 'am --skip works' '
 	test_cmp expected another
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'am --abort removes a stray directory' '
+	mkdir .git/rebase-apply &&
+	git am --abort &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/rebase-apply
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'am --resolved works' '
 	echo goodbye >expected &&
 	rm -fr .git/rebase-apply &&