diff --git a/crates/goat-tui/src/app/mod.rs b/crates/goat-tui/src/app/mod.rs
index 1f9a723..4b9b607 100644
--- a/crates/goat-tui/src/app/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/goat-tui/src/app/mod.rs
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ pub(crate) enum Overlay {
 const TICK: Duration = Duration::from_millis(120);
 const QUIT_ARM_TICKS: u16 = 25;
 const CLEAR_ARM_TICKS: u16 = 25;
+const BRANCH_POLL_TICKS: u16 = 8;
 
 pub(crate) enum AppEvent {
     Input(CtEvent),
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ pub struct App {
     pub(crate) spinner: usize,
     pub(crate) quit_arm: Option<u16>,
     pub(crate) clear_arm: Option<u16>,
+    branch_poll: u16,
     pub(crate) queued: Vec<(
         TaskId,
         String,
@@ -180,6 +182,7 @@ impl App {
             spinner: 0,
             quit_arm: None,
             clear_arm: None,
+            branch_poll: BRANCH_POLL_TICKS,
             queued: Vec::new(),
             should_quit: false,
             dirty: true,
@@ -232,6 +235,11 @@ impl App {
                 if crate::toast::tick(&mut self.toasts) {
                     self.dirty = true;
                 }
+                self.branch_poll = self.branch_poll.saturating_sub(1);
+                if self.branch_poll == 0 {
+                    self.branch_poll = BRANCH_POLL_TICKS;
+                    self.refresh_git_branch();
+                }
                 Vec::new()
             }
             AppEvent::Input(CtEvent::Key(key)) if key.kind == KeyEventKind::Press => {
@@ -827,6 +835,21 @@ impl App {
     pub(crate) fn workspace_snapshot(&self) -> Option<&goat_worktree::Workspace> {
         self.git_workspace.as_ref()
     }
+    fn refresh_git_branch(&mut self) {
+        let Some(ws) = self.git_workspace.as_ref() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let Some(branch) = ws.head_branch() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        if branch == ws.git_branch {
+            return;
+        }
+        if let Some(ws) = self.git_workspace.as_mut() {
+            ws.git_branch = branch;
+        }
+        self.dirty = true;
+    }
     pub(crate) fn quit_armed(&self) -> bool {
         self.quit_arm.is_some()
     }
diff --git a/crates/goat-worktree/src/lib.rs b/crates/goat-worktree/src/lib.rs
index 563292a..b7c4203 100644
--- a/crates/goat-worktree/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/goat-worktree/src/lib.rs
@@ -604,6 +604,18 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(ws.git_branch, "main");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn head_branch_tracks_checkout() {
+        let Some(dir) = git_repo() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let repo = dir.path().join("repo");
+        let ws = workspace(&repo).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(ws.head_branch().as_deref(), Some("main"));
+        run(&repo, &["checkout", "-b", "feature-x"]);
+        assert_eq!(ws.head_branch().as_deref(), Some("feature-x"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn workspace_managed_from_worktree_path() {
         let Some(dir) = git_repo_with_origin() else {
diff --git a/crates/goat-worktree/src/workspace.rs b/crates/goat-worktree/src/workspace.rs
index abdd933..479b357 100644
--- a/crates/goat-worktree/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/goat-worktree/src/workspace.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,24 @@ pub fn workspace(cwd: &Path) -> Result<Workspace, WorktreeError> {
     })
 }
 
+impl Workspace {
+    pub fn head_branch(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        let head = self.repo_root.join(".git").join("HEAD");
+        parse_head(&std::fs::read_to_string(head).ok()?)
+    }
+}
+
+fn parse_head(content: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    let content = content.trim();
+    if let Some(branch) = content.strip_prefix("ref: refs/heads/") {
+        return Some(branch.to_owned());
+    }
+    if !content.is_empty() && content.bytes().all(|byte| byte.is_ascii_hexdigit()) {
+        return Some(content.chars().take(7).collect());
+    }
+    None
+}
+
 fn owner_root(current_root: &Path, worktrees: &[crate::git::GitWorktree]) -> PathBuf {
     for worktree in worktrees {
         let bucket = worktree.path.join(GOAT_DIR).join(WORKTREES_DIR);
@@ -94,4 +112,21 @@ mod tests {
         let plan = PathBuf::from("/repo/.goat/worktrees/plan");
         assert_eq!(owner_root(&plan, &worktrees), PathBuf::from("/repo"));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_head_symbolic_and_detached() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_head("ref: refs/heads/main\n").as_deref(),
+            Some("main")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_head("ref: refs/heads/feature/foo\n").as_deref(),
+            Some("feature/foo")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_head("5894a7d0deadbeef1234\n").as_deref(),
+            Some("5894a7d")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(parse_head("\n"), None);
+    }
 }