diff --git a/dist/cli/index.js b/dist/cli/index.js
index d2255fb..aeba715 100755
--- a/dist/cli/index.js
+++ b/dist/cli/index.js
@@ -541,6 +541,13 @@ class GitCLIService {
             return;
         }
         this.logger.info(`Folder ${to} already exist. Won't clone`);
+        // ensure the working tree is properly reset - no stale changes 
+        // from previous (failed) backport
+        const ongoingCherryPick = await this.anyConflict(to);
+        if (ongoingCherryPick) {
+            this.logger.warn("Found previously failed cherry-pick, aborting it");
+            await this.git(to).raw(["cherry-pick", "--abort"]);
+        }
         // checkout to the proper branch
         this.logger.info(`Checking out branch ${branch}`);
         await this.git(to).checkout(branch);
@@ -598,6 +605,20 @@ class GitCLIService {
             throw error;
         }
     }
+    /**
+     * Check whether there are some conflicts in the current working directory
+     * which means there is an ongoing cherry-pick that did not complete successfully
+     * @param cwd repository in which the check should be performed
+     * @return true if there is some conflict, false otherwise
+     */
+    async anyConflict(cwd) {
+        const status = await this.git(cwd).status();
+        if (status.conflicted.length > 0) {
+            this.logger.debug(`Found conflicts in branch ${status.current}`);
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
     /**
      * Push a branch to a remote
      * @param cwd repository in which the push should be performed
diff --git a/dist/gha/index.js b/dist/gha/index.js
index 5798d22..80b6947 100755
--- a/dist/gha/index.js
+++ b/dist/gha/index.js
@@ -506,6 +506,13 @@ class GitCLIService {
             return;
         }
         this.logger.info(`Folder ${to} already exist. Won't clone`);
+        // ensure the working tree is properly reset - no stale changes 
+        // from previous (failed) backport
+        const ongoingCherryPick = await this.anyConflict(to);
+        if (ongoingCherryPick) {
+            this.logger.warn("Found previously failed cherry-pick, aborting it");
+            await this.git(to).raw(["cherry-pick", "--abort"]);
+        }
         // checkout to the proper branch
         this.logger.info(`Checking out branch ${branch}`);
         await this.git(to).checkout(branch);
@@ -563,6 +570,20 @@ class GitCLIService {
             throw error;
         }
     }
+    /**
+     * Check whether there are some conflicts in the current working directory
+     * which means there is an ongoing cherry-pick that did not complete successfully
+     * @param cwd repository in which the check should be performed
+     * @return true if there is some conflict, false otherwise
+     */
+    async anyConflict(cwd) {
+        const status = await this.git(cwd).status();
+        if (status.conflicted.length > 0) {
+            this.logger.debug(`Found conflicts in branch ${status.current}`);
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
     /**
      * Push a branch to a remote
      * @param cwd repository in which the push should be performed
diff --git a/src/service/git/git-cli.ts b/src/service/git/git-cli.ts
index fc22f44..d7fc7e6 100644
--- a/src/service/git/git-cli.ts
+++ b/src/service/git/git-cli.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,15 @@ export default class GitCLIService {
     }
     
     this.logger.info(`Folder ${to} already exist. Won't clone`);
+    
+    // ensure the working tree is properly reset - no stale changes 
+    // from previous (failed) backport
+    const ongoingCherryPick = await this.anyConflict(to);
+    if (ongoingCherryPick) {
+      this.logger.warn("Found previously failed cherry-pick, aborting it");
+      await this.git(to).raw(["cherry-pick", "--abort"]);
+    }
+
     // checkout to the proper branch
     this.logger.info(`Checking out branch ${branch}`);
     await this.git(to).checkout(branch);
@@ -131,6 +140,21 @@ export default class GitCLIService {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check whether there are some conflicts in the current working directory
+   * which means there is an ongoing cherry-pick that did not complete successfully
+   * @param cwd repository in which the check should be performed
+   * @return true if there is some conflict, false otherwise
+   */
+  async anyConflict(cwd: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    const status = await this.git(cwd).status();
+    if (status.conflicted.length > 0) {
+      this.logger.debug(`Found conflicts in branch ${status.current}`);
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Push a branch to a remote
    * @param cwd repository in which the push should be performed