diff --git a/src/applications/differential/xaction/DifferentialRevisionCommandeerTransaction.php b/src/applications/differential/xaction/DifferentialRevisionCommandeerTransaction.php
index 5aafa536f3..a296597bc7 100644
--- a/src/applications/differential/xaction/DifferentialRevisionCommandeerTransaction.php
+++ b/src/applications/differential/xaction/DifferentialRevisionCommandeerTransaction.php
@@ -1,98 +1,108 @@
 <?php
 
 final class DifferentialRevisionCommandeerTransaction
   extends DifferentialRevisionActionTransaction {
 
   const TRANSACTIONTYPE = 'differential.revision.commandeer';
   const ACTIONKEY = 'commandeer';
 
   protected function getRevisionActionLabel() {
     return pht('Commandeer Revision');
   }
 
   protected function getRevisionActionDescription(
     DifferentialRevision $revision) {
     return pht('You will take control of this revision and become its author.');
   }
 
   public function getIcon() {
     return 'fa-flag';
   }
 
   public function getColor() {
     return 'sky';
   }
 
   protected function getRevisionActionOrder() {
     return 700;
   }
 
   public function getActionName() {
     return pht('Commandeered');
   }
 
   public function getCommandKeyword() {
     return 'commandeer';
   }
 
   public function getCommandAliases() {
     return array(
       'claim',
     );
   }
 
   public function getCommandSummary() {
     return pht('Commandeer a revision.');
   }
 
   public function generateOldValue($object) {
     return $object->getAuthorPHID();
   }
 
   public function generateNewValue($object, $value) {
     $actor = $this->getActor();
     return $actor->getPHID();
   }
 
   public function applyInternalEffects($object, $value) {
     $object->setAuthorPHID($value);
   }
 
   protected function validateAction($object, PhabricatorUser $viewer) {
-    if ($object->isClosed()) {
+    // If a revision has already landed, we generally want to discourage
+    // reopening and reusing it since this tends to create a big mess (users
+    // should create a new revision instead). Thus, we stop you from
+    // commandeering closed revisions.
+
+    // See PHI985. If the revision was abandoned, there's no peril in allowing
+    // the commandeer since the change (likely) never actually landed. So
+    // it's okay to commandeer abandoned revisions.
+
+    if ($object->isClosed() && !$object->isAbandoned()) {
       throw new Exception(
         pht(
           'You can not commandeer this revision because it has already '.
-          'been closed. You can only commandeer open revisions.'));
+          'been closed. You can only commandeer open or abandoned '.
+          'revisions.'));
     }
 
     if ($this->isViewerRevisionAuthor($object, $viewer)) {
       throw new Exception(
         pht(
           'You can not commandeer this revision because you are already '.
           'the author.'));
     }
   }
 
   public function getTitle() {
     return pht(
       '%s commandeered this revision.',
       $this->renderAuthor());
   }
 
   public function getTitleForFeed() {
     return pht(
       '%s commandeered %s.',
       $this->renderAuthor(),
       $this->renderObject());
   }
 
   public function getTransactionTypeForConduit($xaction) {
     return 'commandeer';
   }
 
   public function getFieldValuesForConduit($object, $data) {
     return array();
   }
 
 }