diff --git a/lib/tests/test_git.rs b/lib/tests/test_git.rs
index cb0b7f7434..c470649fc5 100644
--- a/lib/tests/test_git.rs
+++ b/lib/tests/test_git.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ use jj_lib::git::{
 use jj_lib::git_backend::GitBackend;
 use jj_lib::object_id::ObjectId;
 use jj_lib::op_store::{BranchTarget, RefTarget, RemoteRef, RemoteRefState};
-use jj_lib::refs::BranchPushUpdate;
+use jj_lib::refs::{merge_ref_targets, BranchPushUpdate};
 use jj_lib::repo::{MutableRepo, ReadonlyRepo, Repo};
 use jj_lib::settings::{GitSettings, UserSettings};
 use jj_lib::signing::Signer;
@@ -2789,12 +2789,21 @@ fn test_push_branches_unexpectedly_moved_sideways_on_remote() {
     let sideways_commit = write_random_commit(tx.mut_repo(), &settings);
     setup.jj_repo = tx.commit("test");
     let mut tx = setup.jj_repo.start_transaction(&settings);
+    let index = setup.jj_repo.index();
 
     // The main branch is actually at `initial_commit` on the remote. If we expected
     // it to be at `sideways_commit`, we cannot delete it or move it anywhere else.
     // However, "moving" it to the same place it already is is OK, following the
     // behavior in `test_merge_ref_targets`.
 
+    let result = merge_ref_targets(
+        index,
+        RefTarget::absent_ref(),
+        &RefTarget::normal(sideways_commit.id().clone()),
+        &RefTarget::normal(setup.initial_commit.id().clone()),
+    );
+    assert_ne!(result, RefTarget::absent());
+    dbg!(result);
     let targets = GitBranchPushTargets {
         branch_updates: vec![(
             "main".to_owned(),
@@ -2826,6 +2835,17 @@ fn test_push_branches_unexpectedly_moved_sideways_on_remote() {
     )
     "###);
 
+    let result = merge_ref_targets(
+        index,
+        &RefTarget::normal(setup.child_of_initial_commit.id().clone()),
+        &RefTarget::normal(sideways_commit.id().clone()),
+        &RefTarget::normal(setup.initial_commit.id().clone()),
+    );
+    assert_ne!(
+        result,
+        RefTarget::normal(setup.child_of_initial_commit.id().clone())
+    );
+    dbg!(result);
     let targets = GitBranchPushTargets {
         branch_updates: vec![(
             "main".to_owned(),
@@ -2920,6 +2940,14 @@ fn test_push_branches_unexpectedly_moved_sideways_on_remote() {
     "###);
 
     // Moving the branch to the same place it already is is OK.
+    let result = merge_ref_targets(
+        index,
+        &RefTarget::normal(setup.initial_commit.id().clone()),
+        &RefTarget::normal(sideways_commit.id().clone()),
+        &RefTarget::normal(setup.initial_commit.id().clone()),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(result, RefTarget::normal(setup.initial_commit.id().clone()));
+    dbg!(result);
     let targets = GitBranchPushTargets {
         branch_updates: vec![(
             "main".to_owned(),