diff --git a/cmd/git-sync/main.go b/cmd/git-sync/main.go
index 0ee35bc..fd8a10e 100644
--- a/cmd/git-sync/main.go
+++ b/cmd/git-sync/main.go
@@ -1111,7 +1111,8 @@ func (git *repoSync) AddWorktreeAndSwap(ctx context.Context, hash string) error
 	}
 
 	// Reset the root's rev (so we can prune and so we can rely on it later).
-	_, err = git.run.Run(ctx, git.root, nil, git.cmd, "reset", "--hard", hash, "--")
+	// Use --soft so we do not check out files into the root.
+	_, err = git.run.Run(ctx, git.root, nil, git.cmd, "reset", "--soft", hash, "--")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}