diff --git a/dvc/repo/metrics/diff.py b/dvc/repo/metrics/diff.py
index 0f0a2550a..04ab6c945 100644
--- a/dvc/repo/metrics/diff.py
+++ b/dvc/repo/metrics/diff.py
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ def diff(repo, *args, a_rev=None, b_rev=None, **kwargs):
     b_rev = b_rev or "workspace"
 
     metrics = repo.metrics.show(*args, **kwargs, revs=[a_rev, b_rev])
+
+    # workspace may have been replaced by active branch
+    workspace_rev = (a_rev == "workspace") or (b_rev == "workspace")
+    if workspace_rev and "workspace" not in metrics:
+        active_branch = repo.scm.active_branch()
+        metrics["workspace"] = metrics[active_branch]
+
     old = metrics.get(a_rev, {}).get("data", {})
     new = metrics.get(b_rev, {}).get("data", {})
 
diff --git a/tests/func/metrics/test_diff.py b/tests/func/metrics/test_diff.py
index 23adde515..1749b9476 100644
--- a/tests/func/metrics/test_diff.py
+++ b/tests/func/metrics/test_diff.py
@@ -235,3 +235,20 @@ def test_diff_top_level_metrics(tmp_dir, dvc, scm, dvcfile, metrics_file):
             "foo": {"diff": 2, "new": 5, "old": 3}
         }
     }
+
+
+def test_metrics_diff_active_branch_unchanged(
+    tmp_dir, scm, dvc, run_copy_metrics
+):
+    def _gen(val):
+        metrics = {"a": {"b": {"c": val, "d": 1, "e": str(val)}}}
+        (tmp_dir / "m_temp.yaml").dump(metrics)
+        run_copy_metrics(
+            "m_temp.yaml", "m.yaml", metrics=["m.yaml"], commit=str(val)
+        )
+
+    _gen(1)
+    _gen(2)
+    _gen(1)
+
+    assert dvc.metrics.diff(a_rev=tmp_dir.scm.active_branch()) == {}