diff --git a/lib/git.zsh b/lib/git.zsh
index fb4ad8ca6..534c1072c 100644
--- a/lib/git.zsh
+++ b/lib/git.zsh
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # get the name of the branch we are on
 function git_prompt_info() {
-  ref=$(git symbolic-ref HEAD 2> /dev/null) || return
+  git rev-parse 2> /dev/null || return
+  ref=$(git symbolic-ref HEAD 2> /dev/null || print '(no branch)')
   echo "$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_PREFIX${ref#refs/heads/}$(parse_git_dirty)$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_SUFFIX"
 }