diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 91123c1..c80c062 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 36
+- `gc --remove` removes copies with a submodule (git refused without `--force`) and copies whose status shows changes but content equals HEAD (a hook restored the files); a change, a stash or a commit on no remote inside a submodule still blocks removal, and so does a failed submodule check.
+
 ## 35
 - `gc` also removes branches squash-merged into the main branch, and branches merged into them.
 
diff --git a/lib/dpcli/__init__.py b/lib/dpcli/__init__.py
index a2d55ac..2118742 100644
--- a/lib/dpcli/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/dpcli/__init__.py
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@
 else in the current copy. Exit codes: 0 ok, 1 error/check failed, 2 arguments.
 """
 
-VERSION = 35  # bump on every change: older copies re-exec from the main copy (reexec.maybe_reexec)
+VERSION = 36  # bump on every change: older copies re-exec from the main copy (reexec.maybe_reexec)
diff --git a/lib/dpcli/commands/branches.py b/lib/dpcli/commands/branches.py
index b3f08b9..1baea28 100644
--- a/lib/dpcli/commands/branches.py
+++ b/lib/dpcli/commands/branches.py
@@ -184,16 +184,24 @@ def junk_ok(f):
 def remove_copy(path):
     """Remove a copy: refuse (-> reason) on changes in tracked files or untracked work files;
     git-ignored and generated files (gc.ignore_dirs, gc.ignore_globs) do not block it. -> (reason|None, ignored dirs)."""
+    # status noise with content equal to HEAD (a hook restored the files) is not work; any change inside a submodule is,
+    # and so is a submodule commit on no remote: its repository is removed with the copy
     d = gitx.dirty(path)
-    if d:
+    if d and gitx.gitr("diff", "--quiet", "HEAD", cwd=path).returncode:
         return f"dirty copy ({len(d)} files)", []
+    r = gitx.gitr("submodule", "foreach", "--quiet", "--recursive",
+                  "git status --porcelain && git stash list && git rev-list --branches HEAD --not --remotes", cwd=path)
+    if r.returncode:
+        return f"cannot check submodules: {gitx.gerr(r)}", []
+    if r.stdout.split():
+        return "changes or unpushed commits in submodules", []
     junk = [f for xy, f in gitx.status_entries(path) if xy == "??"]
     other = [f for f in junk if not junk_ok(f)]
     if other:
         return f"untracked files ({len(other)}: {', '.join(other[:3])})", []
     ign = ignored_dirs(path)
-    # only generated files, not work: git refuses on untracked, hence --force
-    r = gitx.gitr("worktree", "remove", *(["--force"] if junk else []), str(path))
+    # checked above; --force: git refuses on untracked generated files and on any copy with a submodule
+    r = gitx.gitr("worktree", "remove", "--force", str(path))
     if r.returncode:
         return gitx.gerr(r), []
     return None, ign
diff --git a/tests/test_fixes.py b/tests/test_fixes.py
index fef64e8..486b566 100644
--- a/tests/test_fixes.py
+++ b/tests/test_fixes.py
@@ -211,6 +211,58 @@ def test_remove_copy_refuses_work(self):
         self.assertIn("dirty copy", why)
         self.assertTrue(path.exists())
 
+    def test_remove_copy_status_noise_without_changes(self):
+        # a pre-commit hook restored the file: status says MM, content equals HEAD
+        self.cfg()
+        path = self.make_copy()
+        (path / "a.txt").write_text("b")
+        sh("add", "a.txt", cwd=path)
+        (path / "a.txt").write_text("a")
+        why, _ = branches.remove_copy(path)
+        self.assertIsNone(why)
+        self.assertFalse(path.exists())
+
+    def test_remove_copy_with_submodule(self):
+        sub = self.main.parent / "sub"
+        sub.mkdir()
+        sh("init", "-q", "-b", "main", cwd=sub)
+        (sub / "s.txt").write_text("s")
+        sh("add", ".", cwd=sub)
+        sh("-c", "user.email=t@t", "-c", "user.name=t", "commit", "-q", "-m", "s", cwd=sub)
+        sh("-c", "protocol.file.allow=always", "submodule", "add", "-q", str(sub), "lib", cwd=self.main)
+        sh("commit", "-q", "-m", "sub", cwd=self.main)
+        self.cfg()
+        path = self.make_copy()
+        sh("-c", "protocol.file.allow=always", "submodule", "update", "-q", "--init", cwd=path)
+        (path / "lib" / "work.txt").write_text("работа")
+        why, _ = branches.remove_copy(path)
+        self.assertIn("submodules", why)
+        sh("add", "work.txt", cwd=path / "lib")
+        sh("-c", "user.email=t@t", "-c", "user.name=t", "stash", "-q", cwd=path / "lib")
+        why, _ = branches.remove_copy(path)
+        self.assertIn("submodules", why)
+        sh("stash", "pop", "-q", cwd=path / "lib")
+        # a commit only in the copy's submodule repository would be lost with it
+        sh("add", "work.txt", cwd=path / "lib")
+        sh("-c", "user.email=t@t", "-c", "user.name=t", "commit", "-q", "-m", "w", cwd=path / "lib")
+        sh("add", "lib", cwd=path)
+        sh("commit", "-q", "-m", "pointer", cwd=path)
+        why, _ = branches.remove_copy(path)
+        self.assertIn("submodules", why)
+        sh("reset", "-q", "--hard", "HEAD~1", cwd=path)
+        sh("submodule", "update", "-q", cwd=path)
+        # the check itself fails: block, do not assume clean
+        dotgit = path / "lib" / ".git"
+        good = dotgit.read_text()
+        dotgit.write_text("gitdir: /nonexistent\n")
+        why, _ = branches.remove_copy(path)
+        self.assertIn("cannot check submodules", why)
+        dotgit.write_text(good)
+        sh("branch", "-q", "-D", "main", cwd=path / "lib")
+        why, _ = branches.remove_copy(path)
+        self.assertIsNone(why)
+        self.assertFalse(path.exists())
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()