diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index b28f90dc22..7e136a616e 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -524,8 +524,12 @@ static struct branch *new_branch(const char *name)
 
 	if (b)
 		die("Invalid attempt to create duplicate branch: %s", name);
-	if (check_ref_format(name))
+	switch (check_ref_format(name)) {
+	case  0: break; /* its valid */
+	case -2: break; /* valid, but too few '/', allow anyway */
+	default:
 		die("Branch name doesn't conform to GIT standards: %s", name);
+	}
 
 	b = pool_calloc(1, sizeof(struct branch));
 	b->name = pool_strdup(name);
diff --git a/t/t9300-fast-import.sh b/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
index 6f95305bf4..dac6135b22 100755
--- a/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
+++ b/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
@@ -170,6 +170,53 @@ test_expect_failure \
     'git-fast-import <input'
 rm -f .git/objects/pack_* .git/objects/index_*
 
+cat >input <<INPUT_END
+commit .badbranchname
+committer $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> $GIT_COMMITTER_DATE
+data <<COMMIT
+corrupt
+COMMIT
+
+from refs/heads/master
+
+INPUT_END
+test_expect_failure \
+    'B: fail on invalid branch name ".badbranchname"' \
+    'git-fast-import <input'
+rm -f .git/objects/pack_* .git/objects/index_*
+
+cat >input <<INPUT_END
+commit bad[branch]name
+committer $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> $GIT_COMMITTER_DATE
+data <<COMMIT
+corrupt
+COMMIT
+
+from refs/heads/master
+
+INPUT_END
+test_expect_failure \
+    'B: fail on invalid branch name "bad[branch]name"' \
+    'git-fast-import <input'
+rm -f .git/objects/pack_* .git/objects/index_*
+
+cat >input <<INPUT_END
+commit TEMP_TAG
+committer $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> $GIT_COMMITTER_DATE
+data <<COMMIT
+tag base
+COMMIT
+
+from refs/heads/master
+
+INPUT_END
+test_expect_success \
+    'B: accept branch name "TEMP_TAG"' \
+    'git-fast-import <input &&
+	 test -f .git/TEMP_TAG &&
+	 test `git rev-parse master` = `git rev-parse TEMP_TAG^`'
+rm -f .git/TEMP_TAG
+
 ###
 ### series C
 ###