diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 8953d1c6d3..1c0e24a855 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -2611,9 +2611,6 @@ static int lock_ref_for_update(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 
 	update->backend_data = lock;
 
-	if (update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY)
-		goto out;
-
 	if (update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) {
 		if (update->flags & REF_NO_DEREF) {
 			/*
diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index e2316f1dd4..29045aad43 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -2068,4 +2068,13 @@ do
 
 done
 
+test_expect_success 'update-ref should also create reflog for HEAD' '
+	test_commit to-rewind &&
+	git rev-parse HEAD >expect &&
+	head=$(git symbolic-ref HEAD) &&
+	git update-ref --create-reflog "$head" HEAD~ &&
+	git rev-parse HEAD@{1} >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done