I can try anyway: your file is still accessible with this (file content is 'foo\n') $ git cat-file --batch-all-objects --batch 257cc5642cb1a054f08cc83f

I can try anyway: your file is still accessible with this (file content is 'foo\n') $ git cat-file --batch-all-objects --batch 257cc5642cb1a054f08cc83f2d943e56fd3ebe99 blob 4 foo But as others said, yes I'd expect this. You wanted reset (soft). (EDIT: formatting)