diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index c092855dd7..ccb854a20e 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -446,6 +446,8 @@ done
 # If the dotest directory exists, but we have finished applying all the
 # patches in them, clear it out.
 if test -d "$dotest" &&
+   test -f "$dotest/last" &&
+   test -f "$dotest/next" &&
    last=$(cat "$dotest/last") &&
    next=$(cat "$dotest/next") &&
    test $# != 0 &&
@@ -454,7 +456,7 @@ then
    rm -fr "$dotest"
 fi
 
-if test -d "$dotest"
+if test -d "$dotest" && test -f "$dotest/last" && test -f "$dotest/next"
 then
 	case "$#,$skip$resolved$abort" in
 	0,*t*)