diff --git a/gix/src/discover.rs b/gix/src/discover.rs
index 7979c68ea77..37e28fa98ca 100644
--- a/gix/src/discover.rs
+++ b/gix/src/discover.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ impl ThreadSafeRepository {
         options.git_dir_trust = trust.into();
         // Note that we will adjust the `current_dir` later so it matches the value of `core.precomposeUnicode`.
         options.current_dir = Some(gix_fs::current_dir(false).map_err(upwards::Error::CurrentDir)?);
-        Self::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, options).map_err(Into::into)
+        Self::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, options, None).map_err(Into::into)
     }
 
     /// Try to open a git repository directly from the environment.
diff --git a/gix/src/init.rs b/gix/src/init.rs
index b537c021c4a..5c1992c110f 100644
--- a/gix/src/init.rs
+++ b/gix/src/init.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl ThreadSafeRepository {
         open_options.git_dir_trust = Some(gix_sec::Trust::Full);
         // The repo will use `core.precomposeUnicode` to adjust the value as needed.
         open_options.current_dir = gix_fs::current_dir(false)?.into();
-        let repo = ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, open_options)?;
+        let repo = ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, open_options, None)?;
 
         let branch_name = repo
             .config
diff --git a/gix/src/open/repository.rs b/gix/src/open/repository.rs
index 5dc4bf47c1d..940e31ffef2 100644
--- a/gix/src/open/repository.rs
+++ b/gix/src/open/repository.rs
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ impl ThreadSafeRepository {
             options.git_dir_trust = gix_sec::Trust::from_path_ownership(&git_dir)?.into();
         }
         options.current_dir = Some(cwd);
-        ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, options)
+        ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, options, None)
     }
 
     /// Try to open a git repository in `fallback_directory` (can be worktree or `.git` directory) only if there is no override
@@ -154,13 +154,14 @@ impl ThreadSafeRepository {
         let mut options = trust_map.into_value_by_level(git_dir_trust);
         options.git_dir_trust = git_dir_trust.into();
         options.current_dir = Some(cwd);
-        ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, options)
+        ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(git_dir, worktree_dir, options, None)
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn open_from_paths(
         mut git_dir: PathBuf,
         mut worktree_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
         mut options: Options,
+        known_common_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     ) -> Result<Self, Error> {
         let _span = gix_trace::detail!("open_from_paths()");
         options.open_path_as_is = false;
@@ -185,9 +186,12 @@ impl ThreadSafeRepository {
         } = options;
         let git_dir_trust = git_dir_trust.as_mut().expect("trust must be determined by now");
 
-        let mut common_dir = gix_discover::path::from_plain_file(git_dir.join("commondir").as_ref())
-            .transpose()?
-            .map(|cd| git_dir.join(cd));
+        let mut common_dir = match known_common_dir {
+            Some(common_dir) => Some(common_dir),
+            None => gix_discover::path::from_plain_file(git_dir.join("commondir").as_ref())
+                .transpose()?
+                .map(|cd| git_dir.join(cd)),
+        };
         let repo_config = config::cache::StageOne::new(
             common_dir.as_deref().unwrap_or(&git_dir),
             git_dir.as_ref(),
diff --git a/gix/src/remote/connection/fetch/update_refs/tests.rs b/gix/src/remote/connection/fetch/update_refs/tests.rs
index cec52444205..b7a029a11c0 100644
--- a/gix/src/remote/connection/fetch/update_refs/tests.rs
+++ b/gix/src/remote/connection/fetch/update_refs/tests.rs
@@ -262,6 +262,55 @@ mod update {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn incomplete_linked_worktrees_without_a_head_are_ignored() -> Result {
+        let (repo, _tmp) = repo_rw("two-origins");
+        let git_dir = repo.common_dir().join("worktrees/incomplete");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&git_dir)?;
+        std::fs::write(git_dir.join("gitdir"), b"missing/.git\n")?;
+
+        let (mappings, specs) = mapping_from_spec("refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/incomplete", &repo);
+        let update = || {
+            fetch::refs::update(
+                &repo,
+                prefixed("action"),
+                &mappings,
+                &specs,
+                &[],
+                fetch::Tags::None,
+                fetch::DryRun::Yes,
+                fetch::WritePackedRefs::Never,
+            )
+        };
+        let expected = vec![fetch::refs::Update {
+            mode: fetch::refs::update::Mode::New,
+            type_change: None,
+            edit_index: Some(0),
+        }];
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            update()?.updates,
+            expected,
+            "the incomplete worktree contributes no checked-out branch"
+        );
+
+        std::fs::write(git_dir.join("locked"), b"still in use\n")?;
+        assert_eq!(
+            update()?.updates,
+            expected,
+            "locking does not make an unreadable head protect a branch"
+        );
+
+        std::fs::remove_file(git_dir.join("locked"))?;
+        std::fs::write(git_dir.join("commondir"), b"missing\n")?;
+        assert_eq!(
+            update()?.updates,
+            expected,
+            "the parent repository supplies the authoritative common directory"
+        );
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn unborn_remote_branches_can_be_created_locally_if_they_are_new() -> Result {
         let repo = named_repo("unborn");
diff --git a/gix/src/worktree/proxy.rs b/gix/src/worktree/proxy.rs
index 6ff08b95715..bb9198afb1e 100644
--- a/gix/src/worktree/proxy.rs
+++ b/gix/src/worktree/proxy.rs
@@ -43,18 +43,20 @@ impl<'repo> Proxy<'repo> {
 }
 
 impl Proxy<'_> {
-    /// Read the location of the checkout, the base of the work tree.
-    /// Note that the location might not exist.
-    pub fn base(&self) -> std::io::Result<PathBuf> {
+    fn dot_git(&self) -> std::io::Result<PathBuf> {
         let git_dir = self.git_dir.join("gitdir");
-        let base_dot_git = gix_discover::path::from_plain_file_relative_to_file(&git_dir).ok_or_else(|| {
+        gix_discover::path::from_plain_file_relative_to_file(&git_dir).ok_or_else(|| {
             std::io::Error::new(
                 std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound,
                 format!("Required file '{}' does not exist", git_dir.display()),
             )
-        })??;
+        })?
+    }
 
-        Ok(gix_discover::path::without_dot_git_dir(base_dot_git))
+    /// Read the location of the checkout, the base of the work tree.
+    /// Note that the location might not exist.
+    pub fn base(&self) -> std::io::Result<PathBuf> {
+        Ok(gix_discover::path::without_dot_git_dir(self.dot_git()?))
     }
 
     /// The git directory for the work tree, typically contained within the parent git dir.
@@ -70,7 +72,18 @@ impl Proxy<'_> {
 
     /// Return true if the worktree cannot be pruned, moved or deleted, which is useful if it is located on an external storage device.
     pub fn is_locked(&self) -> bool {
-        self.git_dir.join("locked").is_file()
+        self.git_dir.join("locked").symlink_metadata().is_ok()
+    }
+
+    /// Return true if this worktree can be pruned without an expiry grace period.
+    ///
+    /// Locked worktrees are never prunable. Otherwise, an unreadable `gitdir` file or missing target
+    /// makes the worktree prunable.
+    pub fn is_prunable(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.is_locked()
+            && self
+                .dot_git()
+                .map_or(true, |dot_git| dot_git.symlink_metadata().is_err())
     }
 
     /// Provide a reason for the locking of this worktree, if it is locked at all.
@@ -92,7 +105,8 @@ impl Proxy<'_> {
     pub fn into_repo_with_possibly_inaccessible_worktree(self) -> Result<Repository, crate::open::Error> {
         let base = self.base().ok();
         let options = self.parent.options.clone().without_repository_environment_overrides();
-        let repo = ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(self.git_dir, base, options)?;
+        let common_dir = self.parent.common_dir().to_owned();
+        let repo = ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(self.git_dir, base, options, Some(common_dir))?;
         Ok(repo.into())
     }
 
@@ -106,7 +120,8 @@ impl Proxy<'_> {
             return Err(into_repo::Error::MissingWorktree { base });
         }
         let options = self.parent.options.clone().without_repository_environment_overrides();
-        let repo = ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(self.git_dir, base.into(), options)?;
+        let common_dir = self.parent.common_dir().to_owned();
+        let repo = ThreadSafeRepository::open_from_paths(self.git_dir, base.into(), options, Some(common_dir))?;
         Ok(repo.into())
     }
 }
diff --git a/gix/tests/gix/repository/worktree.rs b/gix/tests/gix/repository/worktree.rs
index 32e1d2a4d0f..b99c5519418 100644
--- a/gix/tests/gix/repository/worktree.rs
+++ b/gix/tests/gix/repository/worktree.rs
@@ -439,6 +439,11 @@ fn run_assertions(main_repo: gix::Repository, should_be_bare: bool) {
         assert_eq!(proxy_lock_reason, expected.locked);
         let proxy_is_locked = actual.is_locked();
         assert_eq!(proxy_is_locked, proxy_lock_reason.is_some());
+        assert_eq!(
+            actual.is_prunable(),
+            expected.prunable.is_some(),
+            "prunability matches `git worktree list --porcelain`"
+        );
         // TODO: check id of expected worktree, but need access to .gitdir from worktree base
         let proxy_id = actual.id().to_owned();
         assert_eq!(
@@ -485,15 +490,15 @@ fn run_assertions(main_repo: gix::Repository, should_be_bare: bool) {
         let proxy_by_id = repo
             .worktree_proxy_by_id(actual.id())
             .expect("can get the proxy from a linked repo as well");
-        assert_ne!(
+        assert_eq!(
             proxy_by_id.git_dir(),
             actual.git_dir(),
-            "The git directories might not look the same…"
+            "The git directories are the same"
         );
         assert_eq!(
             gix_path::realpath(proxy_by_id.git_dir()).ok(),
             gix_path::realpath(actual.git_dir()).ok(),
-            "…but they are the same effectively"
+            "the git directories are effectively the same"
         );
     }
 }