--- /dev/null
+### Please describe the problem.
+
+After adding a directory special remote to a git annex repository, the git annex push push-win-remote fails with the following error:
+
+Not updating export to push-win-remote because adjusted/main(unlocked) does not exist. (As configured by remote.push-win-remote.annex-tracking-branch)
+
+The problem does *not* occur on Linux or macOS.
+
+### What steps will reproduce the problem?
+
+[[!format sh """
+mkdir push-win-repo
+mkdir push-win-rmt
+cd push-win-repo
+git init --initial-branch main
+git annex init push-win-repository
+git annex config --set annex.largefiles include=*.xtx
+echo "push test file" >> push-test.xtx
+git annex add .
+git commit -m "add push test file"
+git annex initremote push-win-remote type=directory directory=../push-win-rmt autoenable=true encryption=none exporttree=yes importtree=yes
+git config remote.push-win-remote.annex-tracking-branch adjusted/main(unlocked)
+git annex group push-win-remote manual
+git annex wanted push-win-remote include=*.xtx
+git annex push push-win-remote
+"""]]
+
+### What version of git-annex are you using? On what operating system?
+
+* git-annex version: 10.20230803-gd467c70ef7
+* git version 2.41.0.windows.2
+* OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
+* OS Version: 10.0.19045 N/A Build 19045
+
+### Please provide any additional information below.
+
+[[!format sh """
+# If you can, paste a complete transcript of the problem occurring here.
+# If the problem is with the git-annex assistant, paste in .git/annex/daemon.log
+
+C:\win-push-bug>mkdir push-win-repo
+
+C:\win-push-bug>mkdir push-win-rmt
+
+C:\win-push-bug>cd push-win-repo
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git init --initial-branch main
+Initialized empty Git repository in C:/win-push-bug/push-win-repo/.git/
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex init push-win-repository
+init push-win-repository
+ Detected a filesystem without fifo support.
+
+ Disabling ssh connection caching.
+
+ Detected a crippled filesystem.
+
+ Entering an adjusted branch where files are unlocked as this filesystem does not support locked files.
+
+Switched to branch 'adjusted/main(unlocked)'
+ok
+(recording state in git...)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex config --set annex.largefiles include=*.xtx
+annex.largefiles include=*.xtx ok
+(recording state in git...)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>echo "push test file" 1>>push-test.xtx
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex add .
+add push-test.xtx
+ok
+(recording state in git...)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git commit -m "add push test file"
+[adjusted/main(unlocked) f3262a2] add push test file
+ 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
+ create mode 100644 push-test.xtx
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex initremote push-win-remote type=directory directory=../push-win-rmt autoenable=true encryption=none exporttree=yes importtree=yes
+initremote push-win-remote ok
+(recording state in git...)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git config remote.push-win-remote.annex-tracking-branch adjusted/main(unlocked)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex group push-win-remote manual
+group push-win-remote ok
+(recording state in git...)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex wanted push-win-remote include=*.xtx
+wanted push-win-remote ok
+(recording state in git...)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>git annex push push-win-remote
+
+ Not updating export to push-win-remote because adjusted/main(unlocked) does not exist. (As configured by remote.push-win-remote.annex-tracking-branch)
+
+C:\win-push-bug\push-win-repo>
+
+# End of transcript or log.
+"""]]
+
+### Have you had any luck using git-annex before? (Sometimes we get tired of reading bug reports all day and a lil' positive end note does wonders)
+
+Yes. I am developing the easy-git-annex api.