diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/new-workspace.ts b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/new-workspace.ts
index 7a021fb26..55caebd6b 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/new-workspace.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/new-workspace.ts
@@ -190,6 +190,29 @@ export async function openGlobalNewWorkspaceComposer(page: Page): Promise<void>
   });
 }
 
+export async function openMissingProjectNewWorkspaceComposer(
+  page: Page,
+  input: { serverId: string; projectId: string; sourceDirectory: string },
+): Promise<void> {
+  const query = new URLSearchParams({
+    serverId: input.serverId,
+    projectId: input.projectId,
+    dir: input.sourceDirectory,
+    name: "Missing project",
+  });
+  await page.goto(`/new?${query.toString()}`);
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/new\?.*projectId=/u, { timeout: 30_000 });
+}
+
+export async function expectNewWorkspaceControlsEnabled(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Workspace project" })).toBeEnabled({
+    timeout: 30_000,
+  });
+  await expect(page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message agent..." })).toBeEditable({
+    timeout: 30_000,
+  });
+}
+
 export async function openNewWorkspaceProjectPickerWithShortcut(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await page.keyboard.press("Control+P");
 
@@ -286,9 +309,8 @@ export async function selectWorkspaceIsolation(
   await expect(trigger).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
   await trigger.click();
 
-  // "New worktree" is only listed once the checkout status query confirms the
-  // selected project is a git repo, so wait for the option to appear before
-  // clicking it.
+  // Isolation options are derived from project capability. Wait for the option
+  // so this helper also covers route-to-project reconciliation.
   const option = page.getByTestId(`workspace-create-isolation-${isolation}`);
   await expect(option).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
   await option.click();
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/new-workspace-entry.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/new-workspace-entry.spec.ts
index 920b03415..bc4c64229 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/new-workspace-entry.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/new-workspace-entry.spec.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "./helpers/app";
 import {
   connectNewWorkspaceDaemonClient,
+  expectNewWorkspaceControlsEnabled,
   expectNewWorkspaceProjectSelected,
   openGlobalNewWorkspaceComposer,
+  openMissingProjectNewWorkspaceComposer,
   openNewWorkspaceComposer,
   openNewWorkspaceProjectPickerWithShortcut,
 } from "./helpers/new-workspace";
@@ -13,7 +15,7 @@ import { seedSavedSettingsHosts } from "./helpers/settings";
 import { getServerId } from "./helpers/server-id";
 import { projectEquivalenceViewKey } from "./helpers/project-view-key";
 import { clickArchiveWorkspaceMenuItem, expectWorkspaceAbsentFromSidebar } from "./helpers/sidebar";
-import { waitForSidebarHydration } from "./helpers/workspace-ui";
+import { waitForNoProjectsInSidebar, waitForSidebarHydration } from "./helpers/workspace-ui";
 
 // Model B entry points into the New Workspace screen. The surviving entries are
 // the global button (universal) and each project's per-row New workspace icon
@@ -108,6 +110,18 @@ test.describe("New workspace entry points", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test("a stale project route keeps the New Workspace controls enabled", async ({ page }) => {
+    await gotoAppShell(page);
+    await waitForNoProjectsInSidebar(page);
+    await openMissingProjectNewWorkspaceComposer(page, {
+      serverId: getServerId(),
+      projectId: "missing-project",
+      sourceDirectory: "/tmp/missing-project",
+    });
+
+    await expectNewWorkspaceControlsEnabled(page);
+  });
+
   test("Ctrl+P opens the project picker with search focused", async ({ page }) => {
     const seeded: SeededWorkspace = await seedWorkspace({ repoPrefix: "entry-shortcut-" });
 
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-projection.test.ts b/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-projection.test.ts
index d456efa3b..9338d55a4 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-projection.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-projection.test.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ function makeProject(workspaces: SidebarWorkspacePlacement[]): SidebarProjectEnt
         serverId: "srv",
         projectId: "project",
         iconWorkingDir: "/repo",
-        canCreateWorktree: true,
+        worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
       },
     ],
     workspaces,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.test.ts b/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.test.ts
index 4bd435e4e..df8952749 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 import { resetReviewDraftStore, useReviewDraftStore } from "@/review/store";
 import {
   applyCheckoutStatusUpdateFromEvent,
+  ensureCheckoutStatus,
   type CheckoutPrStatusPayload,
   type CheckoutStatusPayload,
   fetchCheckoutStatus,
@@ -122,6 +123,40 @@ describe("fetchCheckoutStatus", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("ensureCheckoutStatus", () => {
+  it("awaits the canonical checkout-status query and reuses its cached result", async () => {
+    const queryClient = createQueryClient();
+    const fetched = checkoutStatus({ currentBranch: "feature/current" });
+    const client = { getCheckoutStatus: vi.fn(async () => fetched) };
+
+    const first = await ensureCheckoutStatus({ queryClient, client, serverId, cwd });
+    const second = await ensureCheckoutStatus({ queryClient, client, serverId, cwd });
+
+    expect(first).toEqual(fetched);
+    expect(second).toEqual(fetched);
+    expect(client.getCheckoutStatus).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(cwd);
+  });
+
+  it("awaits a refetch when the canonical cached status was invalidated", async () => {
+    const queryClient = createQueryClient();
+    queryClient.setQueryData(
+      checkoutStatusQueryKey(serverId, cwd),
+      checkoutStatus({ currentBranch: "feature/stale" }),
+    );
+    await queryClient.invalidateQueries({
+      queryKey: checkoutStatusQueryKey(serverId, cwd),
+      refetchType: "none",
+    });
+    const fetched = checkoutStatus({ currentBranch: "feature/current" });
+    const client = { getCheckoutStatus: vi.fn(async () => fetched) };
+
+    const result = await ensureCheckoutStatus({ queryClient, client, serverId, cwd });
+
+    expect(result.currentBranch).toBe("feature/current");
+    expect(client.getCheckoutStatus).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(cwd);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("applyCheckoutStatusUpdateFromEvent", () => {
   it("writes the checkout status to the cache using the cwd from the payload", () => {
     const queryClient = createQueryClient();
diff --git a/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.ts b/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.ts
index 79ba03a41..1f76dc67b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/git/checkout-status-cache.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,24 @@ export async function fetchCheckoutStatus({
   return payload;
 }
 
+export async function ensureCheckoutStatus({
+  queryClient,
+  client,
+  serverId,
+  cwd,
+}: {
+  queryClient: QueryClient;
+  client: CheckoutStatusClient;
+  serverId: string;
+  cwd: string;
+}): Promise<CheckoutStatusPayload> {
+  return await queryClient.fetchQuery({
+    queryKey: checkoutStatusQueryKey(serverId, cwd),
+    queryFn: () => fetchCheckoutStatus({ client, serverId, cwd }),
+    staleTime: Infinity,
+  });
+}
+
 export function applyCheckoutStatusUpdateFromEvent({
   queryClient,
   serverId,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.test.ts b/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.test.ts
index 5f4e666d0..d108f9d86 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.test.ts
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ function project(input: {
         {
           serverId: "srv",
           iconWorkingDir: input.iconWorkingDir ?? input.projectKey,
-          canCreateWorktree: true,
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
         },
       ],
       (host) => Object.assign({}, host, { projectId: host.projectId ?? input.projectKey }),
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ describe("buildSidebarProjectsFromStructure", () => {
             {
               serverId: "relay:paseo-host",
               iconWorkingDir: "/repo/project-1",
-              canCreateWorktree: true,
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
             },
           ],
           workspaceKeys: ["relay:paseo-host:ws-main"],
@@ -276,8 +276,16 @@ describe("shared sidebar workspace model", () => {
           projectName: "getpaseo/paseo",
           iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo",
           hosts: [
-            { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo", canCreateWorktree: true },
-            { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo", canCreateWorktree: true },
+            {
+              serverId: "host-a",
+              iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo",
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+            },
+            {
+              serverId: "host-b",
+              iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo",
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+            },
           ],
           workspaceKeys: ["host-a:main", "host-b:feature"],
         }),
@@ -334,13 +342,13 @@ describe("shared sidebar workspace model", () => {
             serverId: "host-a",
             projectId: "getpaseo/paseo",
             iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo",
-            canCreateWorktree: true,
+            worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
           },
           {
             serverId: "host-b",
             projectId: "getpaseo/paseo",
             iconWorkingDir: "/repo/getpaseo/paseo",
-            canCreateWorktree: true,
+            worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
           },
         ],
         workspaces: [
@@ -470,14 +478,22 @@ describe("shouldShowSidebarHostLabels", () => {
         project({
           projectKey: "project-a",
           hosts: [
-            { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/project-a", canCreateWorktree: true },
+            {
+              serverId: "host-a",
+              iconWorkingDir: "/repo/project-a",
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+            },
           ],
           workspaceKeys: ["host-a:ws-1"],
         }),
         project({
           projectKey: "project-b",
           hosts: [
-            { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/project-b", canCreateWorktree: true },
+            {
+              serverId: "host-b",
+              iconWorkingDir: "/repo/project-b",
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+            },
           ],
           workspaceKeys: ["host-b:ws-2"],
         }),
@@ -493,8 +509,16 @@ describe("shouldShowSidebarHostLabels", () => {
         project({
           projectKey: "getpaseo/paseo",
           hosts: [
-            { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/paseo", canCreateWorktree: true },
-            { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/paseo", canCreateWorktree: true },
+            {
+              serverId: "host-a",
+              iconWorkingDir: "/repo/paseo",
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+            },
+            {
+              serverId: "host-b",
+              iconWorkingDir: "/repo/paseo",
+              worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+            },
           ],
           workspaceKeys: ["host-a:main", "host-b:feature"],
         }),
diff --git a/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.ts b/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.ts
index 6feb14cb8..330822799 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/hooks/sidebar-workspaces-view-model.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export interface SidebarWorkspacePlacement {
   projectName: string;
   projectRootPath?: string;
   workspaceDirectory?: string;
-  projectKind: WorkspaceDescriptor["projectKind"];
+  projectKind: WorkspaceStructureProject["projectKind"];
   workspaceKind: WorkspaceDescriptor["workspaceKind"];
   name: string;
 }
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export interface SidebarWorkspaceEntry extends SidebarStatusWorkspacePlacement {
 export interface SidebarProjectEntry {
   viewKey: string;
   projectName: string;
-  projectKind: WorkspaceDescriptor["projectKind"];
+  projectKind: WorkspaceStructureProject["projectKind"];
   iconWorkingDir: string;
   hosts: WorkspaceStructureHostPlacement[];
   workspaces: SidebarWorkspacePlacement[];
diff --git a/packages/app/src/projects/host-project-model.ts b/packages/app/src/projects/host-project-model.ts
index c0a2d8c1a..525ea647b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/projects/host-project-model.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/projects/host-project-model.ts
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ export function hostProjectFromRoute(route: HostProjectRouteContext): HostProjec
     viewKey: createProjectViewKey({ kind: "placement", serverId: route.serverId, projectId }),
     projectKey: null,
     projectName: trimOptional(route.displayName) || projectId,
-    projectKind: "git",
+    projectKind: "unknown",
     iconWorkingDir,
     hosts: [
       {
         serverId: route.serverId,
         projectId,
         iconWorkingDir,
-        canCreateWorktree: true,
+        worktreeSupport: "unknown",
       },
     ],
     workspaceKeys: [],
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export function hostProjectFromWorkspace(input: {
         serverId: input.serverId,
         projectId: input.workspace.projectId,
         iconWorkingDir,
-        canCreateWorktree: canCreate,
+        worktreeSupport: canCreate ? "supported" : "unsupported",
       },
     ],
     workspaceKeys: [`${input.serverId}:${input.workspace.id}`],
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export function hostProjectFromWorkspace(input: {
 }
 
 function projectCanCreateWorktree(project: HostProjectListItem): boolean {
-  return project.hosts.some((h) => h.canCreateWorktree);
+  return project.hosts.some((host) => host.worktreeSupport !== "unsupported");
 }
 
 function getHostProjectPlacement(
@@ -101,6 +101,13 @@ function getHostProjectPlacement(
   return null;
 }
 
+export function getWorktreeSupportForHostProject(input: {
+  project: HostProjectListItem;
+  serverId: string;
+}): WorkspaceStructureHostPlacement["worktreeSupport"] {
+  return getHostProjectPlacement(input.project, input.serverId)?.worktreeSupport ?? "unknown";
+}
+
 export function getHostProjectSourceDirectory(
   project: HostProjectListItem,
   serverId: string,
@@ -121,7 +128,7 @@ export function canCreateWorkspaceForHostProject(input: {
   if (!host) {
     return false;
   }
-  return input.allowAllProjects || host.canCreateWorktree;
+  return input.allowAllProjects || host.worktreeSupport !== "unsupported";
 }
 
 export function filterWorkspaceProjectsForHost(input: {
diff --git a/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.test.ts b/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.test.ts
index 6267ea267..dc07b1726 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   canCreateWorkspaceForHostProject,
   getHostProjectId,
   getHostProjectSourceDirectory,
+  getWorktreeSupportForHostProject,
   hostProjectFromRoute,
 } from "./host-project-model";
 
@@ -19,13 +20,13 @@ function project(): HostProjectListItem {
         serverId: "host-a",
         projectId: "prj_a",
         iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a",
-        canCreateWorktree: true,
+        worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
       },
       {
         serverId: "host-b",
         projectId: "prj_b",
         iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b",
-        canCreateWorktree: true,
+        worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
       },
     ],
     workspaceKeys: [],
@@ -49,6 +50,38 @@ describe("host project lookups", () => {
     ).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  test("checks worktree capability against the selected host placement", () => {
+    const groupedProject = project();
+    groupedProject.hosts[1] = {
+      ...groupedProject.hosts[1]!,
+      worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
+    };
+
+    expect(getWorktreeSupportForHostProject({ project: groupedProject, serverId: "host-a" })).toBe(
+      "supported",
+    );
+    expect(getWorktreeSupportForHostProject({ project: groupedProject, serverId: "host-b" })).toBe(
+      "unsupported",
+    );
+    expect(getWorktreeSupportForHostProject({ project: groupedProject, serverId: "missing" })).toBe(
+      "unknown",
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("marks route placeholder worktree support as unknown", () => {
+    const routeProject = hostProjectFromRoute({
+      serverId: "host-a",
+      projectId: "prj_a",
+      displayName: "App",
+      sourceDirectory: "/repo/a",
+    });
+    expect(routeProject).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(routeProject!.projectKind).toBe("unknown");
+    expect(getWorktreeSupportForHostProject({ project: routeProject!, serverId: "host-a" })).toBe(
+      "unknown",
+    );
+  });
+
   test("builds an unhydrated route project around the routed project id", () => {
     expect(
       hostProjectFromRoute({
diff --git a/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.ts b/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.ts
index 094a459b0..3d874bedb 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/projects/host-projects.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ export {
   filterWorkspaceProjectsForHost,
   getHostProjectSourceDirectory,
   getHostProjectId,
+  getWorktreeSupportForHostProject,
   hostProjectFromRoute,
   hostProjectFromWorkspace,
   resolveHostProjectCandidate,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/projects/workspace-structure.ts b/packages/app/src/projects/workspace-structure.ts
index db25238c3..9cd08cc54 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/projects/workspace-structure.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/projects/workspace-structure.ts
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ export interface WorkspaceStructureHostPlacement {
   serverId: string;
   projectId: string;
   iconWorkingDir: string;
-  canCreateWorktree: boolean;
+  worktreeSupport: "supported" | "unsupported" | "unknown";
 }
 
 export interface WorkspaceStructureProject {
   viewKey: string;
   projectKey: string | null;
   projectName: string;
-  projectKind: WorkspaceDescriptor["projectKind"];
+  projectKind: WorkspaceDescriptor["projectKind"] | "unknown";
   iconWorkingDir: string;
   hosts: WorkspaceStructureHostPlacement[];
   workspaceKeys: string[];
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ function addProjectToView(input: {
     serverId,
     projectId: project.projectId,
     iconWorkingDir: project.projectRootPath,
-    canCreateWorktree: project.projectKind === "git",
+    worktreeSupport: project.projectKind === "git" ? "supported" : "unsupported",
   };
   const draft = byProject.get(viewKey);
   if (!draft) {
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-initial-context.test.ts b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-initial-context.test.ts
index 969aae6d9..8b18c5443 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-initial-context.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-initial-context.test.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,14 @@ function projectFor(serverId: string, key = "project"): HostProjectListItem {
     projectName: key,
     projectKind: "git",
     iconWorkingDir: `/work/${key}`,
-    hosts: [{ serverId, projectId: key, iconWorkingDir: `/work/${key}`, canCreateWorktree: true }],
+    hosts: [
+      {
+        serverId,
+        projectId: key,
+        iconWorkingDir: `/work/${key}`,
+        worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+      },
+    ],
     workspaceKeys: [],
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.test.ts b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.test.ts
index 23d3edae9..0d223dd32 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import type { ForgeSearchItem } from "@getpaseo/protocol/messages";
-import { pickerItemToCheckoutRequest, type PickerItem } from "./new-workspace-picker-item";
+import type { CheckoutStatusPayload } from "@/git/checkout-status-cache";
+import {
+  pickerItemToCheckoutRequest,
+  resolveCheckoutRequest,
+  type PickerItem,
+} from "./new-workspace-picker-item";
 
 const prItem: ForgeSearchItem = {
   kind: "change_request",
@@ -82,3 +87,31 @@ describe("pickerItemToCheckoutRequest", () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe("resolveCheckoutRequest", () => {
+  const checkoutStatus = {
+    currentBranch: "feature/current",
+  } as CheckoutStatusPayload;
+
+  it("branches from the loaded current branch when nothing was picked", () => {
+    expect(resolveCheckoutRequest(null, checkoutStatus)).toEqual({
+      action: "branch-off",
+      refName: "feature/current",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("prefers an explicit picker selection", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveCheckoutRequest({ kind: "branch", name: "feature/picked" }, checkoutStatus),
+    ).toEqual({
+      action: "branch-off",
+      refName: "feature/picked",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("preserves the server-default intent for a detached checkout", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveCheckoutRequest(null, { ...checkoutStatus, currentBranch: null }),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.ts b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.ts
index f276510ea..32371e942 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-picker-item.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { CreatePaseoWorktreeInput } from "@getpaseo/client/internal/daemon-client";
 import type { ForgeSearchItem } from "@getpaseo/protocol/messages";
+import type { CheckoutStatusPayload } from "@/git/checkout-status-cache";
 
 export type PickerItem =
   | { kind: "branch"; name: string }
@@ -43,3 +44,16 @@ export function pickerItemToCheckoutRequest(
     }
   }
 }
+
+export function resolveCheckoutRequest(
+  selectedItem: PickerItem | null,
+  checkoutStatus: CheckoutStatusPayload,
+): PickerCheckoutRequest | undefined {
+  const selectedCheckoutRequest = pickerItemToCheckoutRequest(selectedItem);
+  if (selectedCheckoutRequest) return selectedCheckoutRequest;
+  if (!checkoutStatus.currentBranch) return undefined;
+  return {
+    action: "branch-off",
+    refName: checkoutStatus.currentBranch,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-screen.tsx b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-screen.tsx
index 6948f8370..eb541c325 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-screen.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace-screen.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import ReanimatedAnimated from "react-native-reanimated";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles, withUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { createNameId } from "mnemonic-id";
-import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { ChevronDown, Folder, FolderPlus, GitBranch, GitPullRequest } from "lucide-react-native";
 import { Composer } from "@/composer";
 import { FileDropZone } from "@/components/file-drop/file-drop-zone";
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import { HEADER_INNER_HEIGHT, MAX_CONTENT_WIDTH, useIsCompactFormFactor } from "
 import { useToast } from "@/contexts/toast-context";
 import { useAgentInputDraft } from "@/composer/draft/input-draft";
 import { useForgeSearchQuery } from "@/git/use-forge-search-query";
+import { useCheckoutStatusQuery } from "@/git/use-status-query";
+import { ensureCheckoutStatus } from "@/git/checkout-status-cache";
 import {
   useHostRuntimeClient,
   useHostRuntimeConnectionStatuses,
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ import { projectIconPlaceholderLabelFromDisplayName } from "@/utils/project-disp
 import {
   getHostProjectSourceDirectory,
   getHostProjectId,
+  getWorktreeSupportForHostProject,
   hostProjectFromRoute,
   hostProjectFromWorkspace,
   useHostProjects,
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ import {
   remapDraftCwdToWorkspace,
 } from "./new-workspace-fork-context";
 import {
-  pickerItemToCheckoutRequest,
+  resolveCheckoutRequest,
   type PickerCheckoutRequest,
   type PickerItem,
 } from "./new-workspace-picker-item";
@@ -109,19 +112,6 @@ const addProjectIcon = (
   <ThemedFolderPlus size={ICON_SIZE.sm} uniProps={foregroundMutedColorMapping} />
 );
 
-function resolveCheckoutRequest(
-  selectedItem: PickerItem | null,
-  currentBranch: string | null,
-): PickerCheckoutRequest | undefined {
-  const selectedCheckoutRequest = pickerItemToCheckoutRequest(selectedItem);
-  if (selectedCheckoutRequest) return selectedCheckoutRequest;
-  if (!currentBranch) return undefined;
-  return {
-    action: "branch-off",
-    refName: currentBranch,
-  };
-}
-
 function useIsNewWorkspaceDraftHandoffActive(input: {
   draftId: string | undefined;
   selectedServerId: string;
@@ -564,7 +554,8 @@ function NewWorkspaceProjectPickerOption({
       active={active}
       disabled={
         isPending ||
-        (!supportsWorkspaceMultiplicity && !project.hosts.some((host) => host.canCreateWorktree))
+        (!supportsWorkspaceMultiplicity &&
+          !project.hosts.some((host) => host.worktreeSupport !== "unsupported"))
       }
       onPress={onPress}
     />
@@ -697,21 +688,20 @@ interface WorkspaceIsolationState {
   showRefPicker: boolean;
 }
 
-// Worktree isolation only makes sense for a git checkout. The effective isolation
-// falls back to local whenever the selected directory isn't git so the flow
-// never submits an impossible request.
+// Preserve the user's worktree choice while route metadata is provisional. Once
+// the authoritative placement arrives, unsupported projects fall back to local.
 function useWorkspaceIsolation(input: {
   supportsMultiplicity: boolean;
-  selectedIsGit: boolean;
+  worktreeSupport: "supported" | "unsupported" | "unknown";
 }): WorkspaceIsolationState {
-  const { supportsMultiplicity, selectedIsGit } = input;
+  const { supportsMultiplicity, worktreeSupport } = input;
   // The last isolation choice is remembered alongside the other New Workspace
   // form preferences (provider, model, mode). A manual in-screen pick overrides
   // the remembered default until the screen remounts.
   const { preferences, updatePreferences } = useFormPreferences();
   const [manualIsolation, setManualIsolation] = useState<"local" | "worktree" | null>(null);
   const isolation = manualIsolation ?? preferences.isolation ?? "local";
-  const canCreateWorktree = supportsMultiplicity && selectedIsGit;
+  const canCreateWorktree = supportsMultiplicity && worktreeSupport !== "unsupported";
   const isWorktree = isolation === "worktree" && canCreateWorktree;
 
   const setIsolation = useCallback(
@@ -812,8 +802,7 @@ async function createMultiplicityWorkspace(input: {
   isolation: "local" | "worktree";
   project: HostProjectListItem;
   sourceDirectory: string;
-  selectedItem: PickerItem | null;
-  currentBranch: string | null;
+  checkoutRequest: PickerCheckoutRequest | undefined;
   withInitialAgent: boolean;
   prompt: string;
   attachments: AgentAttachment[];
@@ -827,9 +816,6 @@ async function createMultiplicityWorkspace(input: {
   const projectId = getHostProjectId(input.project, input.serverId);
   if (!projectId) throw new Error("Project is not available on the selected host");
   const isWorktree = input.isolation === "worktree";
-  const checkoutRequest = isWorktree
-    ? resolveCheckoutRequest(input.selectedItem, input.currentBranch)
-    : undefined;
   const firstAgentContext = buildFirstAgentContext({
     prompt: input.prompt,
     attachments: input.attachments,
@@ -841,7 +827,7 @@ async function createMultiplicityWorkspace(input: {
           cwd: input.sourceDirectory,
           projectId,
           worktreeSlug: createNameId(),
-          ...checkoutRequest,
+          ...input.checkoutRequest,
         }
       : {
           kind: "directory",
@@ -1518,6 +1504,7 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
   displayName: displayNameProp,
   draftId,
 }: NewWorkspaceScreenProps) {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const { theme } = useUnistyles();
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
@@ -1567,7 +1554,6 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
   }, [pickerSearchQuery]);
 
   const workspace = createdWorkspace;
-  const isPending = isNewWorkspacePending({ pendingAction, isDraftHandoffActive });
   const client = useHostRuntimeClient(selectedServerId);
   const isConnected = useHostRuntimeIsConnected(selectedServerId);
   const {
@@ -1646,27 +1632,20 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
   const hasSelectedSourceDirectory = selectedSourceDirectory !== null;
   const pickerQueryEnabled = pickerOpen && clientReady && hasSelectedSourceDirectory;
 
-  const checkoutStatusQuery = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ["checkout-status", selectedServerId, selectedSourceDirectory],
-    queryFn: async () => {
-      if (!selectedSourceDirectory) {
-        throw new Error("Choose a project");
-      }
-      const connectedClient = withConnectedClient();
-      return connectedClient.getCheckoutStatus(selectedSourceDirectory);
-    },
-    enabled: clientReady && hasSelectedSourceDirectory,
-    staleTime: Infinity,
-    refetchOnMount: false,
-    refetchOnReconnect: false,
-    refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
+  const { status: checkoutStatus } = useCheckoutStatusQuery({
+    serverId: selectedServerId,
+    cwd: selectedSourceDirectory ?? "",
   });
 
-  const currentBranch = checkoutStatusQuery.data?.currentBranch ?? null;
+  const currentBranch = checkoutStatus?.currentBranch ?? null;
+  const worktreeSupport = selectedProject
+    ? getWorktreeSupportForHostProject({ project: selectedProject, serverId: selectedServerId })
+    : "unsupported";
+  const isPending = isNewWorkspacePending({ pendingAction, isDraftHandoffActive });
   const { effectiveIsolation, setIsolation, canCreateWorktree, showRefPicker } =
     useWorkspaceIsolation({
       supportsMultiplicity: supportsWorkspaceMultiplicity,
-      selectedIsGit: checkoutStatusQuery.data?.isGit === true,
+      worktreeSupport,
     });
 
   const branchSuggestionsQuery = useQuery({
@@ -1885,6 +1864,7 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
       cwd: string;
       prompt: string;
       attachments: AgentAttachment[];
+      checkoutRequest: PickerCheckoutRequest | undefined;
     }): CreatePaseoWorktreeInput => {
       if (!selectedProject) {
         throw new Error("Choose a project");
@@ -1892,7 +1872,6 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
       if (!selectedSourceDirectory) {
         throw new Error("Choose a host for this project");
       }
-      const checkoutRequest = resolveCheckoutRequest(selectedItem, currentBranch);
       const firstAgentContext = buildFirstAgentContext(input);
       const hostProjectId = getHostProjectId(selectedProject, selectedServerId);
       if (!hostProjectId) {
@@ -1904,10 +1883,10 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
         projectId: hostProjectId,
         worktreeSlug: createNameId(),
         ...(firstAgentContext ? { firstAgentContext } : {}),
-        ...checkoutRequest,
+        ...input.checkoutRequest,
       };
     },
-    [currentBranch, selectedItem, selectedProject, selectedServerId, selectedSourceDirectory],
+    [selectedProject, selectedServerId, selectedSourceDirectory],
   );
 
   const ensureWorkspace = useCallback(
@@ -1926,14 +1905,26 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
       if (!selectedSourceDirectory) {
         throw new Error("Choose a host for this project");
       }
+      const connectedClient = withConnectedClient();
+      const createsWorktree = !supportsWorkspaceMultiplicity || effectiveIsolation === "worktree";
+      const checkoutRequest = createsWorktree
+        ? resolveCheckoutRequest(
+            selectedItem,
+            await ensureCheckoutStatus({
+              queryClient,
+              client: connectedClient,
+              serverId: selectedServerId,
+              cwd: selectedSourceDirectory,
+            }),
+          )
+        : undefined;
       const normalizedWorkspace = supportsWorkspaceMultiplicity
         ? await createMultiplicityWorkspace({
-            client: withConnectedClient(),
+            client: connectedClient,
             isolation: effectiveIsolation,
             project: selectedProject,
             sourceDirectory: selectedSourceDirectory,
-            selectedItem,
-            currentBranch,
+            checkoutRequest,
             withInitialAgent: input.withInitialAgent,
             prompt: input.prompt,
             attachments: input.attachments,
@@ -1942,8 +1933,8 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
             createFailedMessage: t("newWorkspace.errors.createWorktreeFailed"),
           })
         : await createAndMergeWorkspace({
-            client: withConnectedClient(),
-            createInput: buildCreateWorktreeInput(input),
+            client: connectedClient,
+            createInput: buildCreateWorktreeInput({ ...input, checkoutRequest }),
             mergeWorkspaces,
             serverId: selectedServerId,
             createFailedMessage: t("newWorkspace.errors.createWorktreeFailed"),
@@ -1954,9 +1945,9 @@ export function NewWorkspaceScreen({
     [
       buildCreateWorktreeInput,
       createdWorkspace,
-      currentBranch,
       effectiveIsolation,
       mergeWorkspaces,
+      queryClient,
       selectedItem,
       selectedProject,
       selectedServerId,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-picker.ts b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-picker.ts
index 54f4ab703..0d52b4dfa 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-picker.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-picker.ts
@@ -166,7 +166,11 @@ export function useNewWorkspaceProjectPicker({
     (id: string) => {
       const project = projectByOptionId.get(id);
       if (!project) return;
-      if (!allowAllProjects && !project.hosts.some((host) => host.canCreateWorktree)) return;
+      if (
+        !allowAllProjects &&
+        !project.hosts.some((host) => host.worktreeSupport !== "unsupported")
+      )
+        return;
       setProjectSelection({
         contextKey: manualSelectionContextKey,
         project,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-selection.test.ts b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-selection.test.ts
index 0ec8caea8..2f4ea240b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-selection.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/new-workspace/project-selection.test.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ function project(projectKey: string, serverId = "host"): HostProjectListItem {
         serverId,
         projectId: projectKey,
         iconWorkingDir: `/work/${projectKey}`,
-        canCreateWorktree: true,
+        worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
       },
     ],
     workspaceKeys: [],
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host",
           projectId: "local-project-id",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/project",
-          canCreateWorktree: true,
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host",
           projectId: "local-project-id",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/project",
-          canCreateWorktree: false,
+          worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host-b",
           projectId: "prj_a",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/a",
-          canCreateWorktree: true,
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host-a",
           projectId: "prj_b",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/selected",
-          canCreateWorktree: true,
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host-a",
           projectId: "prj_b",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/selected",
-          canCreateWorktree: true,
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host-b",
           projectId: "shared",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/shared",
-          canCreateWorktree: false,
+          worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ describe("reconcileProjectSelection", () => {
           serverId: "host",
           projectId: "sibling",
           iconWorkingDir: "/work/sibling",
-          canCreateWorktree: true,
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
         },
       ],
     };
diff --git a/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.test.ts b/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.test.ts
index 429502014..6101963f7 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.test.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,11 @@ function project(overrides: ProjectOverrides = {}): SidebarProjectEntry {
   const projectKind = overrides.projectKind ?? "git";
   const hosts = Array.from(
     overrides.hosts ?? [
-      { serverId: "srv", iconWorkingDir: "/repo", canCreateWorktree: projectKind === "git" },
+      {
+        serverId: "srv",
+        iconWorkingDir: "/repo",
+        worktreeSupport: projectKind === "git" ? "supported" : "unsupported",
+      },
     ],
     (host) => Object.assign({}, host, { projectId: host.projectId ?? `project-${host.serverId}` }),
   );
@@ -135,8 +139,12 @@ describe("buildSidebarProjectRowModel", () => {
     const result = buildSidebarProjectRowModel({
       project: project({
         hosts: [
-          { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a", canCreateWorktree: false },
-          { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", canCreateWorktree: true },
+          {
+            serverId: "host-a",
+            iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a",
+            worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
+          },
+          { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", worktreeSupport: "supported" as const },
         ],
       }),
       collapsed: false,
@@ -155,8 +163,16 @@ describe("buildSidebarProjectRowModel", () => {
       project: project({
         projectKind: "directory",
         hosts: [
-          { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a", canCreateWorktree: false },
-          { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", canCreateWorktree: false },
+          {
+            serverId: "host-a",
+            iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a",
+            worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
+          },
+          {
+            serverId: "host-b",
+            iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b",
+            worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
+          },
         ],
       }),
       collapsed: false,
@@ -197,8 +213,8 @@ describe("buildSidebarProjectRowModel", () => {
     const iconTarget = resolveSidebarProjectIconTarget(
       project({
         hosts: [
-          { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", canCreateWorktree: true },
-          { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a", canCreateWorktree: true },
+          { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", worktreeSupport: "supported" as const },
+          { serverId: "host-a", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/a", worktreeSupport: "supported" as const },
         ],
       }),
     );
@@ -214,7 +230,9 @@ describe("buildSidebarProjectRowModel", () => {
     const [iconTarget] = resolveSidebarProjectIconTargets([
       project({
         viewKey: '["placement","host-b","project-b"]',
-        hosts: [{ serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", canCreateWorktree: true }],
+        hosts: [
+          { serverId: "host-b", iconWorkingDir: "/repo/b", worktreeSupport: "supported" as const },
+        ],
       }),
     ]);
 
@@ -230,8 +248,12 @@ describe("buildSidebarProjectRowModel", () => {
     const groupedProject = project({
       iconWorkingDir: "/remote/repo",
       hosts: [
-        { serverId: "remote", iconWorkingDir: "/remote/repo", canCreateWorktree: true },
-        { serverId: "local", iconWorkingDir: "/local/repo", canCreateWorktree: true },
+        {
+          serverId: "remote",
+          iconWorkingDir: "/remote/repo",
+          worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
+        },
+        { serverId: "local", iconWorkingDir: "/local/repo", worktreeSupport: "supported" as const },
       ],
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.ts b/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.ts
index 0333ca3d1..10c0943c1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-project-row-model.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ function resolveNewWorkspaceTarget(
   supportsMultiplicityByServerId: ReadonlyMap<string, boolean>,
 ): SidebarProjectHostTarget | null {
   for (const host of project.hosts) {
-    if (!host.canCreateWorktree && !supportsMultiplicityByServerId.get(host.serverId)) {
+    if (
+      host.worktreeSupport === "unsupported" &&
+      !supportsMultiplicityByServerId.get(host.serverId)
+    ) {
       continue;
     }
     const target = hostTarget(host);
diff --git a/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-shortcuts.test.ts b/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-shortcuts.test.ts
index 7e91d5243..196705c2b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-shortcuts.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/utils/sidebar-shortcuts.test.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function project(projectKey: string, workspaces: SidebarWorkspaceEntry[]): Sideb
         serverId: workspaces[0]?.serverId ?? "s1",
         projectId: projectKey,
         iconWorkingDir: workspaces[0]?.workspaceDirectory ?? "",
-        canCreateWorktree: true,
+        worktreeSupport: "supported" as const,
       },
     ],
     workspaces,
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ describe("buildSidebarShortcutModel", () => {
     directoryProject.projectKind = "directory";
     directoryProject.hosts = directoryProject.hosts.map((host) => ({
       ...host,
-      canCreateWorktree: false,
+      worktreeSupport: "unsupported" as const,
     }));
 
     const model = buildSidebarShortcutModel({