diff --git a/osc/commandline.py b/osc/commandline.py
index c5ccdffb..1f79f8da 100644
--- a/osc/commandline.py
+++ b/osc/commandline.py
@@ -1272,20 +1272,33 @@ Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.
         to a branch. This is a full copy with a _link file pointing to the branched place.
 
         usage:
-            osc linkpac PROJECT PACKAGE
+            osc linktobranch                    # can be used in checked out package
+            osc linktobranch PROJECT PACKAGE
         ${cmd_option_list}
         """
 
         args = slash_split(args)
+        if len(args) == 0:
+            wd = os.curdir
+            project = store_read_project(wd)
+            package = store_read_package(wd)
+            apiurl = store_read_apiurl(wd)
+            update_local_dir = 1
+        elif len(args) < 2:
+            raise oscerr.WrongArgs('Too few arguments (required none or two)')
+        elif len(args) > 2:
+            raise oscerr.WrongArgs('Too many arguments (required none or two)')
+        else:
+            apiurl = conf.config['apiurl']
+            project = args[0]
+            package = args[1]
+            update_local_dir = 0
 
-        if not args or len(args) != 2:
-            raise oscerr.WrongArgs('Incorrect number of arguments.\n\n' \
-                  + self.get_cmd_help('linktobranch'))
-
-        project = args[0]
-        package = args[1]
-
-        link_to_branch(project, package)
+        # execute
+        link_to_branch(apiurl, project, package)
+        if update_local_dir == 1:
+           pac = findpacs(wd)[0]
+           pac.update()
 
 
     @cmdln.option('-C', '--cicount', choices=['add', 'copy', 'local'],
@@ -3373,6 +3386,9 @@ Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.
                      apiurl, project, package,
                      revision=rev, comment=message)
         print r
+        if update_local_dir == 1:
+           pac = findpacs(wd)[0]
+           pac.update()
 
 
     @cmdln.option('-r', '--revision', metavar='rev',
diff --git a/osc/core.py b/osc/core.py
index c1dd64a8..5cc43b04 100644
--- a/osc/core.py
+++ b/osc/core.py
@@ -3072,14 +3072,13 @@ def replace_pkg_meta(pkgmeta, new_name, new_prj, keep_maintainers = False,
             root.remove(dp)
     return ET.tostring(root)
 
-def link_to_branch(project,  package):
+def link_to_branch(apiurl, project,  package):
     """
      convert a package with a _link + project.diff to a branch
     """
 
     if '_link' in meta_get_filelist(conf.config['apiurl'], project, package):
-        # FIXME, verify that it is no branch already
-        u = makeurl(conf.config['apiurl'], ['source', project, package], 'cmd=linktobranch')
+        u = makeurl(apiurl, ['source', project, package], 'cmd=linktobranch')
         http_POST(u)
     else:
         raise oscerr.OscIOError(None, 'no _link file inside project \'%s\' package \'%s\'' % (project, package))