diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/git/revert b/sys/src/cmd/git/revert
index 4174d6bc0..1adb0d2e6 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/git/revert
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/git/revert
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ files=`$nl{cleanname -d $gitrel $* | drop $gitroot}
 for(f in `$nl{cd $commit/tree/ && walk -f ./$files}){
 	mkdir -p `{basename -d $f}
 	cp -x -- $commit/tree/$f $f
+	touch $f
 	git/add $f
 }
 exit ''