diff --git a/src/git.js b/src/git.js
index 5e790185..471271eb 100644
--- a/src/git.js
+++ b/src/git.js
@@ -727,6 +727,13 @@ GitEngine.prototype.rebaseStarter = function() {
 };
 
 GitEngine.prototype.rebase = function(targetSource, currentLocation) {
+  var targetObj = this.resolveID(targetSource);
+  if (targetObj.get('type') !== 'branch') {
+    throw new GitError({
+      msg: 'Only rebase onto branches! Not individual commits'
+    });
+  }
+
   // first some conditions
   if (this.isUpstreamOf(targetSource, currentLocation)) {
     throw new CommandResult({