diff --git a/mob.go b/mob.go
index 267c9ef..4a00092 100644
--- a/mob.go
+++ b/mob.go
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ func run(osArgs []string) {
 }
 
 func hasCommits() bool {
-	commitCount := silentgit("rev-list", "--all", "--count")
-	return commitCount != "0"
+	_, err := silentgitignorefailure("rev-parse", "--verify", "HEAD")
+	return (err == nil)
 }
 
 func currentCliName(argZero string) string {