diff --git a/spec/remote.spec.js b/spec/remote.spec.js
index 1534e589..8357b632 100644
--- a/spec/remote.spec.js
+++ b/spec/remote.spec.js
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ describe('Git Remotes', function() {
     );
   });
 
+  it('pushes', function() {
+    expectTreeAsync(
+      'git clone; git commit; git push',
+      '{"branches":{"master":{"target":"C2","id":"master","remoteTrackingBranchID":"o/master"},"o/master":{"target":"C2","id":"o/master","remoteTrackingBranchID":null}},"commits":{"C0":{"parents":[],"id":"C0","rootCommit":true},"C1":{"parents":["C0"],"id":"C1"},"C2":{"parents":["C1"],"id":"C2"}},"HEAD":{"target":"master","id":"HEAD"},"originTree":{"branches":{"master":{"target":"C2","id":"master","remoteTrackingBranchID":null}},"commits":{"C0":{"parents":[],"id":"C0","rootCommit":true},"C1":{"parents":["C0"],"id":"C1"},"C2":{"parents":["C1"],"id":"C2"}},"HEAD":{"target":"master","id":"HEAD"}}}'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('pulls and then pushes', function() {
     expectTreeAsync(
       'git clone; git commit; git fakeTeamwork; git pull; git push',
diff --git a/src/js/git/commands.js b/src/js/git/commands.js
index 58d505bf..d0c9ec70 100644
--- a/src/js/git/commands.js
+++ b/src/js/git/commands.js
@@ -577,24 +577,27 @@ var commandConfig = {
         if (isColonRefspec(firstArg)) {
           var refspecParts = firstArg.split(':');
           source = refspecParts[0];
-          destination = refspecParts[1];
-          // TODO -- assert good branch name
+          destination = validateAndAssertBranchName(engine, refspecParts[1]);
         } else {
-          // we are using this org as both destination and source
+          // we are using this arg as destination -- source is one before head
           destination = firstArg;
-          source = firstArg;
+          source = engine.getOneBeforeCommit('HEAD').get('id');
         }
-        destination = validateAndAssertBranchName(engine, destination);
       } else {
-        source = engine.getOneBeforeCommit('HEAD');
+        // since they have not specified a source or destination, then
+        // we source from the branch we are on (or HEAD) and push to
+        // the branch we are on
+        source = engine.getOneBeforeCommit('HEAD').get('id');
         destination = source;
-        assertBranchIsRemoteTracking(source);
+        assertBranchIsRemoteTracking(engine, source);
       }
       if (source) {
         assertIsRef(engine, source);
       }
 
       engine.push({
+        // NOTE -- very important! destination and source here
+        // are always, always strings. very important :D
         destination: destination,
         source: source
       });
diff --git a/src/js/git/index.js b/src/js/git/index.js
index f4723506..ea4c4b88 100644
--- a/src/js/git/index.js
+++ b/src/js/git/index.js
@@ -885,19 +885,16 @@ GitEngine.prototype.push = function(options) {
     return;
   }
 
-  var remoteBranch = this.refs[options.source];
-
+  var sourceBranch = this.refs[options.source];
   if (!this.origin.refs[options.destination]) {
     this.makeBranchOnOriginAndTrack(
       options.destination,
       'HEAD'
     );
   }
-  var branchOnRemote = this.origin.refs[options.source];
-
+  var branchOnRemote = this.origin.refs[options.destination];
   var sourceLocation = this.getOneBeforeCommit(options.source || 'HEAD');
 
-  debugger;
   // first check if this is even allowed by checking the sync between
   this.checkUpstreamOfSource(
     this,
@@ -971,7 +968,7 @@ GitEngine.prototype.push = function(options) {
   // HAX HAX update master and remote tracking for master
   chain = chain.then(_.bind(function() {
     var localCommit = this.getCommitFromRef(sourceLocation);
-    this.setTargetLocation(remoteBranch, localCommit);
+    this.setTargetLocation(this.refs[ORIGIN_PREFIX + options.destination], localCommit);
     return this.animationFactory.playRefreshAnimation(this.gitVisuals);
   }, this));
 
@@ -2541,6 +2538,9 @@ var Branch = Ref.extend({
   },
 
   getIsRemote: function() {
+    if (typeof this.get('id') !== 'string') {
+      debugger;
+    }
     return this.get('id').slice(0, 2) === ORIGIN_PREFIX;
   }
 });