diff --git a/tests/rules/test_git_checkout.py b/tests/rules/test_git_checkout.py
index 355b6862..a803f201 100644
--- a/tests/rules/test_git_checkout.py
+++ b/tests/rules/test_git_checkout.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def test_get_branches(branches, branch_list, git_branch):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('branches, command, new_command', [
     (b'',
      Command('git checkout unknown', did_not_match('unknown')),
-     'git branch unknown && git checkout unknown'),
+     'git checkout -b unknown'),
     (b'',
      Command('git commit unknown', did_not_match('unknown')),
      'git branch unknown && git commit unknown'),
diff --git a/thefuck/rules/git_checkout.py b/thefuck/rules/git_checkout.py
index 934f0a49..65705f4f 100644
--- a/thefuck/rules/git_checkout.py
+++ b/thefuck/rules/git_checkout.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ def get_new_command(command):
                                        fallback_to_first=False)
     if closest_branch:
         return replace_argument(command.script, missing_file, closest_branch)
+    elif command.script_parts[1] == 'checkout':
+        return replace_argument(command.script, 'checkout', 'checkout -b')
     else:
         return shell.and_('git branch {}', '{}').format(
             missing_file, command.script)