diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 21ed46534a..1d6dece426 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -3338,6 +3338,9 @@ void ref_transaction_free(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
 {
 	int i;
 
+	if (!transaction)
+		return;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++)
 		free(transaction->updates[i]);