diff --git a/go/cmd/dolt/commands/checkout.go b/go/cmd/dolt/commands/checkout.go
index fb06c68937..124b929ae4 100644
--- a/go/cmd/dolt/commands/checkout.go
+++ b/go/cmd/dolt/commands/checkout.go
@@ -106,15 +106,20 @@ func (cmd CheckoutCmd) Exec(ctx context.Context, commandStr string, args []strin
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	branchOrTrack := apr.Contains(cli.CheckoutCreateBranch) || apr.Contains(cli.TrackFlag)
+	// Argument validation in the CLI is strictly nice to have. The stored procedure will do the same, but the errors
+	// won't be as nice.
+	branchOrTrack := apr.Contains(cli.CheckoutCreateBranch) || apr.Contains(cli.CreateResetBranch) || apr.Contains(cli.TrackFlag)
 	if (branchOrTrack && apr.NArg() > 1) || (!branchOrTrack && apr.NArg() == 0) {
 		usagePrt()
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	// Branch name retrieval here is strictly for messages. dolt_checkout procedure is the authority on logic around validation.
 	var branchName string
 	if apr.Contains(cli.CheckoutCreateBranch) {
 		branchName, _ = apr.GetValue(cli.CheckoutCreateBranch)
+	} else if apr.Contains(cli.CreateResetBranch) {
+		branchName, _ = apr.GetValue(cli.CreateResetBranch)
 	} else if apr.Contains(cli.TrackFlag) {
 		if apr.NArg() > 0 {
 			usagePrt()
diff --git a/integration-tests/bats/checkout.bats b/integration-tests/bats/checkout.bats
index 2b41ca0606..8062b5f921 100755
--- a/integration-tests/bats/checkout.bats
+++ b/integration-tests/bats/checkout.bats
@@ -314,6 +314,46 @@ SQL
     [[ ! "$output" =~ "4" ]] || false
 }
 
+@test "checkout: -B flag will forcefully reset an existing branch" {
+    dolt sql -q 'create table test (id int primary key);'
+    dolt sql -q 'insert into test (id) values (89012);'
+    dolt commit -Am 'first change.'
+    dolt sql -q 'insert into test (id) values (76543);'
+    dolt commit -Am 'second change.'
+
+    dolt checkout -b testbr main~1
+    run dolt sql -q "select * from test;"
+    [[ "$output" =~ "89012" ]] || false
+    [[ ! "$output" =~ "76543" ]] || false
+
+    # make a change to the branch which we'll lose
+    dolt sql -q 'insert into test (id) values (19283);'
+    dolt commit -Am 'change to testbr.'
+
+    dolt checkout main
+    dolt checkout -B testbr main
+    run dolt sql -q "select * from test;"
+    [[ "$output" =~ "89012" ]] || false
+    [[ "$output" =~ "76543" ]] || false
+    [[ ! "$output" =~ "19283" ]] || false
+}
+
+@test "checkout: -B will create a branch that does not exist" {
+    dolt sql -q 'create table test (id int primary key);'
+    dolt sql -q 'insert into test (id) values (89012);'
+    dolt commit -Am 'first change.'
+    dolt sql -q 'insert into test (id) values (76543);'
+    dolt commit -Am 'second change.'
+
+    dolt checkout -B testbr main~1
+    run dolt sql -q "select * from test;"
+    [[ "$output" =~ "89012" ]] || false
+    [[ ! "$output" =~ "76543" ]] || false
+}
+
+
+
+
 @test "checkout: attempting to checkout a detached head shows a suggestion instead" {
   dolt sql -q "create table test (id int primary key);"
   dolt add .