diff --git a/src-tauri/src/app.rs b/src-tauri/src/app.rs
index 55c93841f..94a3915a0 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/app.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/app.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
     bookmarks, database, deltas, events, files, gb_repository,
     project_repository::{self, activity},
     projects, pty, reader, search, sessions, storage, users,
-    virtual_branches,
+    virtual_branches::{self, branch::{BranchUpdateRequest, Ownership}},
     watcher,
 };
 
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ impl App {
         &self,
         project_id: &str,
         name: &str,
-        path: &str,
+        ownership: &Ownership,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let gb_repository = self.gb_repository(project_id)?;
 
@@ -369,7 +369,11 @@ impl App {
         let _permit = semaphore.acquire().await?;
 
         let branch_id = virtual_branches::create_virtual_branch(&gb_repository, name)?;
-        virtual_branches::move_files(&gb_repository, &branch_id, &vec![path.try_into()?])?;
+        virtual_branches::update_branch(&gb_repository, BranchUpdateRequest{
+            id: branch_id,
+            name: None,
+            ownership: Some(ownership.clone()),
+        }).context("failed to update branch")?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/main.rs b/src-tauri/src/main.rs
index 88288dd0b..f68cebd22 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/main.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/main.rs
@@ -588,10 +588,10 @@ async fn create_virtual_branch(
     handle: tauri::AppHandle,
     project_id: &str,
     name: &str,
-    path: &str,
+    ownership: virtual_branches::branch::Ownership,
 ) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let app = handle.state::<app::App>();
-    app.create_virtual_branch(project_id, name, path)
+    app.create_virtual_branch(project_id, name, &ownership)
         .await
         .context("failed to create virtual branch")?;
     Ok(())
diff --git a/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/BranchLane.svelte b/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/BranchLane.svelte
index 2a1b1e954..93c8c88c0 100644
--- a/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/BranchLane.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/BranchLane.svelte
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 	import { getExpandedWithCacheFallback, setExpandedWithCache } from './cache';
 	import type { VirtualBranchOperations } from './vbranches';
 
-	const dispatch = createEventDispatcher();
+	const dispatch = createEventDispatcher<{
+		empty: {};
+	}>();
 
 	export let branchId: string;
 	export let name: string;
@@ -48,7 +50,6 @@
 		});
 
 		files = fileItems.filter((file) => file.hunks && file.hunks.length > 0);
-		if (e.type == 'finalize' && files.length == 0) dispatch('empty');
 		if (e.type === 'finalize') updateBranchOwnership();
 	}
 
@@ -57,21 +58,21 @@
 			.map((file) => file.id + ':' + file.hunks.map((hunk) => hunk.id.split(':')[1]).join(','))
 			.join('\n');
 		virtualBranches.updateBranchOwnership(branchId, ownership);
+		if (files.length == 0) dispatch('empty');
 	}
 
 	function handleFileUpdate(fileId: string, hunks: Hunk[]) {
 		const fileIndex = files.findIndex((f) => f.id == fileId);
-		console.log(fileIndex, fileId, hunks);
 		if (fileIndex == -1) {
 			return;
 		} else {
 			if (hunks.length === 0) {
 				files.splice(fileIndex, 1);
-				if (files.length === 0) dispatch('empty');
 			} else {
 				files[fileIndex].hunks = hunks;
 			}
 			files = files;
+			if (files.length === 0) dispatch('empty');
 			updateBranchOwnership();
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/NewBranchDropZone.svelte b/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/NewBranchDropZone.svelte
index cb442094b..8f68ee1d5 100644
--- a/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/NewBranchDropZone.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/NewBranchDropZone.svelte
@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@
 			branchItems.push(createBranch(file));
 		}
 
+		const ownership = branchItems[0].files
+			.map((file) => file.id + ':' + file.hunks.map((hunk) => hunk.id.split(':')[1]).join(','))
+			.join('\n');
+
 		if (e.type == 'finalize') {
-			virtualBranches.createBranch(branchItems[0].name, branchItems[0].files[0].path);
+			virtualBranches.createBranch(branchItems[0].name, ownership);
 			items = [];
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/vbranches.ts b/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/vbranches.ts
index fec01ee33..a0e1f7876 100644
--- a/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/vbranches.ts
+++ b/src/routes/repo/[projectId]/vbranches.ts
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ function createBranch(
 	writable: Writable<Loadable<Branch[]>>,
 	projectId: string,
 	name: string,
-	path: string
+	ownership: string
 ) {
 	return invoke<object>('create_virtual_branch', {
-		projectId: projectId,
-		name: name,
-		path: path
+		projectId,
+		name,
+		ownership
 	}).then(() => refresh(projectId, writable));
 }