diff --git a/doGui.go b/doGui.go
index a5c9cb6..bc0fbdd 100644
--- a/doGui.go
+++ b/doGui.go
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ func doGui() {
 }
 
 func drawWindow(win *gadgets.BasicWindow) {
+	var reposWin *repoWindow // this is the handle to the repo window
+
 	box := win.Box()
 
 	vbox := box.NewVerticalBox("BOX2")
@@ -94,6 +96,9 @@ func drawWindow(win *gadgets.BasicWindow) {
 	// you can merge everything into the devel branch and make sure it actually
 	// works. Then, when that is good, merge and version everything in master
 	me.setBranchB = grid.NewButton("git checkout", func() {
+		if reposWin != nil {
+			reposWin.Hide()
+		}
 		targetName := me.newBranch.String()
 		log.Warn("setting all branches to", targetName)
 		if targetName == "devel" {
@@ -123,8 +128,6 @@ func drawWindow(win *gadgets.BasicWindow) {
 	me.autoCreateBranches = grid.NewCheckbox("auto create branches").SetChecked(true)
 	grid.NextRow()
 
-	var reposWin *repoWindow
-
 	grid.NewButton("Repo Window", func() {
 		if reposWin != nil {
 			if reposWin.Hidden() {