diff --git a/lib/git/lib.rb b/lib/git/lib.rb
index 191b8a74..bb211221 100644
--- a/lib/git/lib.rb
+++ b/lib/git/lib.rb
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ def branch_delete(branch)
 
     def checkout(branch, opts = {})
       arr_opts = []
-      arr_opts << '-b' if opts[:new_branch] || opts[:b]
+      arr_opts << "-b #{opts[:new_branch] || opts[:b]}" if opts[:new_branch] || opts[:b]
       arr_opts << '--force' if opts[:force] || opts[:f]
       arr_opts << branch