diff --git a/src/git.js b/src/git.js
index 6ad74e31..af332dd3 100644
--- a/src/git.js
+++ b/src/git.js
@@ -965,7 +965,6 @@ GitEngine.prototype.checkoutStarter = function() {
     }
     this.forceBranch(args[0], args[1]);
     this.checkout(args[0]);
-
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1056,6 +1055,11 @@ GitEngine.prototype.branchStarter = function() {
 };
 
 GitEngine.prototype.forceBranch = function(branchName, where) {
+  // if branchname doesn't exist...
+  if (!this.refs[branchName]) {
+    this.branch(branchName, where);
+  }
+
   var branch = this.resolveID(branchName);
   if (branch.get('type') !== 'branch') {
     throw new GitError({
@@ -1064,6 +1068,7 @@ GitEngine.prototype.forceBranch = function(branchName, where) {
   }
 
   var whereCommit = this.getCommitFromRef(where);
+
   this.setTargetLocation(branch, whereCommit);
 };
 
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
index b448c360..d358ca85 100644
--- a/todo.txt
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -26,16 +26,3 @@ Big Bugs to fix:
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
-yeah forces moving it to the commit you indicate
-which is impossible as far as I can tell, short of detaching, deleting the branch, and doing branch [name] [commit]
-(detach in case that's the branch you're currently on)
-checkout -B [name] [commit] is equivalent to branch -f [name] [commit] and then checkout [name]
-tl;dr "branch" is to "checkout -b" as "branch -f" is to "checkout -B"
-
-seems like "branch -f [name] [commit]" does the following:
-git checkout --detach # in case you're on [name]
-git branch -D [name] # delete
-git branch [name] [commit] # move to given commit
-git checkout [name] # switch back
-
-