Bug: Persistent Worktree creation failure leaves an undeletable loading project
Open 💬 1 comment Opened Jun 28, 2026 by luckly2888-hash
What issue are you seeing?
Summary
Creating a Persistent Worktree fails and leaves behind a permanently loading Project that cannot be removed from the sidebar.
Even after the worktree creation fails, the partially created Project remains visible with a spinning/loading indicator and provides no context menu or delete option.
Restarting ChatGPT Desktop does not resolve the problem.
---
Environment
- Codex Variant: ChatGPT Desktop App
- Platform: macOS
- Workspace: ChatGPT Business
- Feature: Projects + Persistent Worktree
---
Steps to Reproduce
- Create a new Project.
- Open the Project.
- Select Create Persistent Worktree.
- Wait for the worktree creation process.
The operation fails with:
Starting worktree creation
fatal: invalid reference: HEAD
git worktree add failed: fatal: invalid reference: [HEAD[](url)]([url]([url]([url](
<img width="298" height="75" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/221c8290-8c74-4f88-9ec4-c5f4c89c4da1" />
<img width="299" height="71" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3b1d010e-52ff-46cc-86dd-fd25d3dd298d" />
<img width="299" height="71" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/49e942fd-e04f-4835-863c-b8abf51fde7e" />
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<img width="299" height="71" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d86a222f-442c-4a49-a8dd-ec151366833c" />
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### What steps can reproduce the bug?
### Steps to Reproduce
1. Open ChatGPT Desktop App (macOS).
2. Open or create a Codex Project.
3. Click **Create Persistent Worktree**.
4. Wait for the worktree creation process.
The operation fails with the following error:
```text
Starting worktree creation
fatal: invalid reference: HEAD
git worktree add failed: fatal: invalid reference: HEAD
After the failure:
- A new Project remains in the sidebar.
- The Project shows a permanent loading/spinning indicator.
- There is no context menu.
- There is no Remove/Delete option.
- Restarting ChatGPT Desktop does not resolve the issue.
- Waiting does not resolve the issue.
What is the expected behavior?
_No response_
Additional information
_No response_
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