diff --git a/packages/git/src/worktree.test.ts b/packages/git/src/worktree.test.ts
index ea4f70697d..fac9c62122 100644
--- a/packages/git/src/worktree.test.ts
+++ b/packages/git/src/worktree.test.ts
@@ -229,6 +229,30 @@ describe("WorktreeManager lifecycle (add / exists / list / remove / prune)", ()
     expect(await dirExists(info.worktreePath)).toBe(false);
     expect(await manager.listWorktrees()).toEqual([]);
   });
+
+  it("throws a clean occupied-branch error when the branch is already checked out", async () => {
+    await createGitClient(localDir).branch(["feature"]);
+
+    const manager = new WorktreeManager({
+      mainRepoPath: localDir,
+      worktreeBasePath: worktreeBaseDir,
+    });
+
+    // First checkout succeeds and claims the branch.
+    const first = await manager.createWorktreeForExistingBranch("feature");
+    expect(await dirExists(first.worktreePath)).toBe(true);
+
+    // Second checkout must fail with a clean, actionable message rather than the
+    // raw "git worktree add exited with code 128" error. The message keeps the
+    // "is already used by worktree" substring the workspace and restore paths
+    // match on.
+    await expect(
+      manager.createWorktreeForExistingBranch("feature"),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/is already used by worktree/);
+    await expect(
+      manager.createWorktreeForExistingBranch("feature"),
+    ).rejects.not.toThrow(/exited with code 128/);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("WorktreeManager worktree link/include processing", () => {
diff --git a/packages/git/src/worktree.ts b/packages/git/src/worktree.ts
index 31ccc259e1..3d5ec47bfa 100644
--- a/packages/git/src/worktree.ts
+++ b/packages/git/src/worktree.ts
@@ -250,6 +250,19 @@ export class WorktreeManager {
       throw new Error(`Branch '${branch}' does not exist`);
     }
 
+    // Git refuses to check a branch out in a second worktree, failing with an
+    // opaque "git worktree add exited with code 128" error. Detect that up
+    // front and throw a clean, actionable message. The wording mirrors git's
+    // own ("is already used by worktree at ...") so callers that key on that
+    // substring — the workspace creation path and the restore toast — keep
+    // recognising the occupied-branch case.
+    const occupyingWorktreePath = await this.findWorktreePathForBranch(branch);
+    if (occupyingWorktreePath) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Branch '${branch}' is already used by worktree at '${occupyingWorktreePath}'`,
+      );
+    }
+
     const worktreeName = await this.resolveAvailableWorktreeName(preferredName);
     const { worktreePath, targetPath } =
       await this.prepareWorktreePath(worktreeName);
@@ -345,6 +358,30 @@ export class WorktreeManager {
     };
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the path of an existing worktree that already has `branch` checked
+   * out (including the main checkout), or null when the branch is free. Uses
+   * git's own worktree list, so it covers worktrees anywhere on disk, not just
+   * managed ones under the base path.
+   */
+  private async findWorktreePathForBranch(
+    branch: string,
+  ): Promise<string | null> {
+    try {
+      const worktrees = await listWorktreesRaw(this.mainRepoPath);
+      const match = worktrees.find((wt) => wt.branch === branch);
+      return match ? match.path : null;
+    } catch (error) {
+      // Degrade to the prior behaviour: if the check can't run, let the git
+      // command proceed rather than blocking creation on a listing failure.
+      this.log.warn("Failed to check for existing worktree on branch", {
+        branch,
+        error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+      });
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Resolves a worktree name that does not collide with an existing worktree,
    * falling back to a freshly generated unique name when the preferred (or