diff --git a/src/vcs.rs b/src/vcs.rs
index 76415e5..dabfd50 100644
--- a/src/vcs.rs
+++ b/src/vcs.rs
@@ -193,55 +193,40 @@ impl Vcs {
             return Ok(());
         }
 
-        let current_profile = self.current_profile()?;
-
-        for project in &mut self.projects {
-            let mut stashed_changes = false;
-            if let Some(current_profile_name) = &current_profile {
-                stashed_changes = project.repo.stash_changes(current_profile_name)?;
-            }
-
-            let ref_name = project.switch_to_profile(profile_name)?;
-            let unstashed_changes = project.repo.unstash_changes(profile_name)?;
-
-            println!(
-                "{} set to {} {}{}",
-                project.name().bold().with(PROJECT_COLOR),
-                ref_name.with(REFS_COLOR),
-                if stashed_changes {
-                    "«".cyan()
-                } else {
-                    "".bold()
-                },
-                if unstashed_changes {
-                    "»".dark_blue()
-                } else {
-                    "".bold()
-                },
-            );
-        }
-
-        Ok(())
+        self.set_projects_using(profile_name, |project| {
+            project.switch_to_profile(profile_name)
+        })
     }
 
     pub fn set_branch(&mut self, branch_name: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        self.set_projects_using(branch_name, |project| project.repo.checkout(branch_name))
+    }
+
+    fn set_projects_using<F>(&mut self, dest_name: &str, setter: F) -> Result<(), Error>
+    where
+        F: Fn(&mut Project) -> Result<String, Error>,
+    {
         for project in &mut self.projects {
             let current_ref = project.repo.current_ref()?;
+            // stash changes before moving project off to a new ref
             let stashed_changes = project.repo.stash_changes(&current_ref)?;
 
-            let new_ref = match project.repo.checkout(branch_name) {
+            // try to switch to new ref using provided setter
+            let new_ref = match setter(project) {
                 Ok(val) => val,
                 Err(err) => {
                     eprintln!(
                         "{} unable to set {} ({})",
                         project.name().bold().with(PROJECT_COLOR),
-                        branch_name.with(REFS_COLOR),
+                        dest_name.with(REFS_COLOR),
                         err.to_string().with(ERROR_COLOR),
                     );
                     continue;
                 }
             };
-            let unstashed_changes = project.repo.unstash_changes(branch_name)?;
+
+            // unstash changes if we had previously stashed any on this ref
+            let unstashed_changes = project.repo.unstash_changes(&new_ref)?;
 
             println!(
                 "{} set to {} {}{}",
@@ -259,6 +244,7 @@ impl Vcs {
                 },
             );
         }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 
diff --git a/src/vcs/systems/git.rs b/src/vcs/systems/git.rs
index 760aa7c..8e32290 100644
--- a/src/vcs/systems/git.rs
+++ b/src/vcs/systems/git.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,22 @@ impl Repository for GitRepository {
             return Ok(false);
         }
 
-        let repo_signature = self.repo.signature()?;
+        let mut err = None;
         let stash_name = self.stash_name(name);
+        self.repo.stash_foreach(|_, name, _| {
+            if name.contains(&stash_name) {
+                err = Some(Error::project_error("Existing stashed changes found"));
+                false
+            } else {
+                true
+            }
+        })?;
+
+        if let Some(err) = err {
+            return Err(err);
+        }
+
+        let repo_signature = self.repo.signature()?;
         self.repo.stash_save(&repo_signature, &stash_name, None)?;
 
         Ok(true)