1 files changed, 3 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 7c4eeb1c99..842c5c7b05 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -805,8 +805,9 @@ int ref_transaction_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 {
 	assert(err);
 
-	if (new_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1) &&
-	    check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
+	if ((new_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1)) ?
+	    check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL) :
+	    !refname_is_safe(refname)) {
 		strbuf_addf(err, "refusing to update ref with bad name '%s'",
 			    refname);
 		return -1;