diff --git a/t/t0410-partial-clone.sh b/t/t0410-partial-clone.sh
index 6b6424b3df..0f98b21be8 100755
--- a/t/t0410-partial-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t0410-partial-clone.sh
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ test_expect_success 'convert shallow clone to partial clone' '
 	test_cmp_config -C client 1 core.repositoryformatversion
 '
 
-test_expect_success SHA1,REFFILES 'convert to partial clone with noop extension' '
+test_expect_success DEFAULT_REPO_FORMAT 'convert to partial clone with noop extension' '
 	rm -fr server client &&
 	test_create_repo server &&
 	test_commit -C server my_commit 1 &&
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ test_expect_success SHA1,REFFILES 'convert to partial clone with noop extension'
 	git -C client fetch --unshallow --filter="blob:none"
 '
 
-test_expect_success SHA1,REFFILES 'converting to partial clone fails with unrecognized extension' '
+test_expect_success DEFAULT_REPO_FORMAT 'converting to partial clone fails with unrecognized extension' '
 	rm -fr server client &&
 	test_create_repo server &&
 	test_commit -C server my_commit 1 &&
diff --git a/t/t0600-reffiles-backend.sh b/t/t0600-reffiles-backend.sh
index e6a5f1868f..485481d6b4 100755
--- a/t/t0600-reffiles-backend.sh
+++ b/t/t0600-reffiles-backend.sh
@@ -381,4 +381,95 @@ test_expect_success 'log diagnoses bogus HEAD symref' '
 	test_grep broken stderr
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'empty directory removal' '
+	git branch d1/d2/r1 HEAD &&
+	git branch d1/r2 HEAD &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/d1/d2/r1 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/d1/d2/r1 &&
+	git branch -d d1/d2/r1 &&
+	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
+	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q logs/refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/d1/r2 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/d1/r2
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'symref empty directory removal' '
+	git branch e1/e2/r1 HEAD &&
+	git branch e1/r2 HEAD &&
+	git checkout e1/e2/r1 &&
+	test_when_finished "git checkout main" &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/e1/e2/r1 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/e1/e2/r1 &&
+	git update-ref -d HEAD &&
+	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q refs/heads/e1/e2 &&
+	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q logs/refs/heads/e1/e2 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/e1/r2 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/e1/r2 &&
+	test_path_is_file .git/logs/HEAD
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'directory not created deleting packed ref' '
+	git branch d1/d2/r1 HEAD &&
+	git pack-refs --all &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
+	git update-ref -d refs/heads/d1/d2/r1 &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/d1
+'
+
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'git branch -m u v should fail when the reflog for u is a symlink' '
+	git branch --create-reflog u &&
+	mv .git/logs/refs/heads/u real-u &&
+	ln -s real-u .git/logs/refs/heads/u &&
+	test_must_fail git branch -m u v
+'
+
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'git branch -m with symlinked .git/refs' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf subdir" &&
+	git init --bare subdir &&
+
+	rm -rfv subdir/refs subdir/objects subdir/packed-refs &&
+	ln -s ../.git/refs subdir/refs &&
+	ln -s ../.git/objects subdir/objects &&
+	ln -s ../.git/packed-refs subdir/packed-refs &&
+
+	git -C subdir rev-parse --absolute-git-dir >subdir.dir &&
+	git rev-parse --absolute-git-dir >our.dir &&
+	! test_cmp subdir.dir our.dir &&
+
+	git -C subdir log &&
+	git -C subdir branch rename-src &&
+	git rev-parse rename-src >expect &&
+	git -C subdir branch -m rename-src rename-dest &&
+	git rev-parse rename-dest >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	git branch -D rename-dest
+'
+
+test_expect_success MINGW,SYMLINKS_WINDOWS 'rebase when .git/logs is a symlink' '
+	git checkout main &&
+	mv .git/logs actual_logs &&
+	cmd //c "mklink /D .git\logs ..\actual_logs" &&
+	git rebase -f HEAD^ &&
+	test -L .git/logs &&
+	rm .git/logs &&
+	mv actual_logs .git/logs
+'
+
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git reflog expire honors core.sharedRepository' '
+	umask 077 &&
+	git config core.sharedRepository group &&
+	git reflog expire --all &&
+	actual="$(ls -l .git/logs/refs/heads/main)" &&
+	case "$actual" in
+	-rw-rw-*)
+		: happy
+		;;
+	*)
+		echo Ooops, .git/logs/refs/heads/main is not 066x [$actual]
+		false
+		;;
+	esac
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t1301-shared-repo.sh b/t/t1301-shared-repo.sh
index 8e2c01e760..b1eb5c01b8 100755
--- a/t/t1301-shared-repo.sh
+++ b/t/t1301-shared-repo.sh
@@ -137,22 +137,6 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'info/refs respects umask in unshared repo' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES,POSIXPERM 'git reflog expire honors core.sharedRepository' '
-	umask 077 &&
-	git config core.sharedRepository group &&
-	git reflog expire --all &&
-	actual="$(ls -l .git/logs/refs/heads/main)" &&
-	case "$actual" in
-	-rw-rw-*)
-		: happy
-		;;
-	*)
-		echo Ooops, .git/logs/refs/heads/main is not 066x [$actual]
-		false
-		;;
-	esac
-'
-
 test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'forced modes' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -rf new" &&
 	mkdir -p templates/hooks &&
diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index 78a09abc35..6ebc3ef945 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -288,33 +288,6 @@ test_expect_success "set $m (logged by touch)" '
 	test $A = $(git show-ref -s --verify $m)
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'empty directory removal' '
-	git branch d1/d2/r1 HEAD &&
-	git branch d1/r2 HEAD &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/d1/d2/r1 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/d1/d2/r1 &&
-	git branch -d d1/d2/r1 &&
-	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
-	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q logs/refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/d1/r2 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/d1/r2
-'
-
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'symref empty directory removal' '
-	git branch e1/e2/r1 HEAD &&
-	git branch e1/r2 HEAD &&
-	git checkout e1/e2/r1 &&
-	test_when_finished "git checkout main" &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/e1/e2/r1 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/e1/e2/r1 &&
-	git update-ref -d HEAD &&
-	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q refs/heads/e1/e2 &&
-	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify -q logs/refs/heads/e1/e2 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/refs/heads/e1/r2 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/logs/refs/heads/e1/r2 &&
-	test_path_is_file .git/logs/HEAD
-'
-
 cat >expect <<EOF
 $Z $A $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> 1117150200 +0000	Initial Creation
 $A $B $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> 1117150260 +0000	Switch
@@ -453,15 +426,15 @@ test_expect_success 'Query "main@{2005-05-28}" (past end of history)' '
 rm -f expect
 git update-ref -d $m
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'query reflog with gap' '
+test_expect_success 'query reflog with gap' '
 	test_when_finished "git update-ref -d $m" &&
 
-	git update-ref $m $F &&
-	cat >.git/logs/$m <<-EOF &&
-	$Z $A $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> 1117150320 -0500
-	$A $B $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> 1117150380 -0500
-	$D $F $GIT_COMMITTER_NAME <$GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL> 1117150680 -0500
-	EOF
+	GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="1117150320 -0500" git update-ref $m $A &&
+	GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="1117150380 -0500" git update-ref $m $B &&
+	GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="1117150480 -0500" git update-ref $m $C &&
+	GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="1117150580 -0500" git update-ref $m $D &&
+	GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="1117150680 -0500" git update-ref $m $F &&
+	git reflog delete $m@{2} &&
 
 	git rev-parse --verify "main@{2005-05-26 23:33:01}" >actual 2>stderr &&
 	echo "$B" >expect &&
@@ -1668,13 +1641,4 @@ test_expect_success PIPE 'transaction flushes status updates' '
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'directory not created deleting packed ref' '
-	git branch d1/d2/r1 HEAD &&
-	git pack-refs --all &&
-	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
-	git update-ref -d refs/heads/d1/d2/r1 &&
-	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/d1/d2 &&
-	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/d1
-'
-
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t1404-update-ref-errors.sh b/t/t1404-update-ref-errors.sh
index 00b7013705..98e9158bd2 100755
--- a/t/t1404-update-ref-errors.sh
+++ b/t/t1404-update-ref-errors.sh
@@ -92,9 +92,6 @@ df_test() {
 	else
 		delname="$delref"
 	fi &&
-	cat >expected-err <<-EOF &&
-	fatal: cannot lock ref $SQ$addname$SQ: $SQ$delref$SQ exists; cannot create $SQ$addref$SQ
-	EOF
 	$pack &&
 	if $add_del
 	then
@@ -103,7 +100,7 @@ df_test() {
 		printf "%s\n" "delete $delname" "create $addname $D"
 	fi >commands &&
 	test_must_fail git update-ref --stdin <commands 2>output.err &&
-	test_cmp expected-err output.err &&
+	grep "fatal:\( cannot lock ref $SQ$addname$SQ:\)\? $SQ$delref$SQ exists; cannot create $SQ$addref$SQ" output.err &&
 	printf "%s\n" "$C $delref" >expected-refs &&
 	git for-each-ref --format="%(objectname) %(refname)" $prefix/r >actual-refs &&
 	test_cmp expected-refs actual-refs
@@ -191,69 +188,69 @@ test_expect_success 'one new ref is a simple prefix of another' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents add long + delete short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents add long + delete short' '
 	df_test refs/df-al-ds --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents add short + delete long' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents add short + delete long' '
 	df_test refs/df-as-dl --add-del foo foo/bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents delete long + add short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents delete long + add short' '
 	df_test refs/df-dl-as --del-add foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents delete short + add long' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents delete short + add long' '
 	df_test refs/df-ds-al --del-add foo foo/bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents add long + delete short packed' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents add long + delete short packed' '
 	df_test refs/df-al-dsp --pack --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents add short + delete long packed' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents add short + delete long packed' '
 	df_test refs/df-as-dlp --pack --add-del foo foo/bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents delete long packed + add short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents delete long packed + add short' '
 	df_test refs/df-dlp-as --pack --del-add foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents delete short packed + add long' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents delete short packed + add long' '
 	df_test refs/df-dsp-al --pack --del-add foo foo/bar
 '
 
 # Try some combinations involving symbolic refs...
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + delete short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + delete short' '
 	df_test refs/df-ial-ds --sym-add --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + indirect delete short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + indirect delete short' '
 	df_test refs/df-ial-ids --sym-add --sym-del --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add short + indirect delete long' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add short + indirect delete long' '
 	df_test refs/df-ias-idl --sym-add --sym-del --add-del foo foo/bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect delete long + indirect add short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect delete long + indirect add short' '
 	df_test refs/df-idl-ias --sym-add --sym-del --del-add foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + delete short packed' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + delete short packed' '
 	df_test refs/df-ial-dsp --sym-add --pack --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + indirect delete short packed' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect add long + indirect delete short packed' '
 	df_test refs/df-ial-idsp --sym-add --sym-del --pack --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents add long + indirect delete short packed' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents add long + indirect delete short packed' '
 	df_test refs/df-al-idsp --sym-del --pack --add-del foo/bar foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'D/F conflict prevents indirect delete long packed + indirect add short' '
+test_expect_success 'D/F conflict prevents indirect delete long packed + indirect add short' '
 	df_test refs/df-idlp-ias --sym-add --sym-del --pack --del-add foo/bar foo
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t1405-main-ref-store.sh b/t/t1405-main-ref-store.sh
index 976bd71efb..1183232a72 100755
--- a/t/t1405-main-ref-store.sh
+++ b/t/t1405-main-ref-store.sh
@@ -33,12 +33,6 @@ test_expect_success 'delete_refs(FOO, refs/tags/new-tag)' '
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse refs/tags/new-tag --
 '
 
-# In reftable, we keep the reflogs around for deleted refs.
-test_expect_success !REFFILES 'delete-reflog(FOO, refs/tags/new-tag)' '
-	$RUN delete-reflog FOO &&
-	$RUN delete-reflog refs/tags/new-tag
-'
-
 test_expect_success 'rename_refs(main, new-main)' '
 	git rev-parse main >expected &&
 	$RUN rename-ref refs/heads/main refs/heads/new-main &&
diff --git a/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh b/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
index 3c8135831b..04f53b1ea1 100755
--- a/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
+++ b/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
@@ -29,36 +29,33 @@ test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout notices failure to lock HEAD' '
 	test_must_fail git checkout -b other
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'create ref directory/file conflict scenario' '
+test_expect_success 'create ref directory/file conflict scenario' '
 	git update-ref refs/heads/outer/inner main &&
-
-	# do not rely on symbolic-ref to get a known state,
-	# as it may use the same code we are testing
 	reset_to_df () {
-		echo "ref: refs/heads/outer" >.git/HEAD
+		git symbolic-ref HEAD refs/heads/outer
 	}
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to branch)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to branch)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout main
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to detached)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to detached)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout --detach main
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'pack refs' '
+test_expect_success 'pack refs' '
 	git pack-refs --all --prune
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to branch)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to branch)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout main
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to detached)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to detached)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout --detach main
 '
diff --git a/t/t3200-branch.sh b/t/t3200-branch.sh
index de7d3014e4..e36f4d15f2 100755
--- a/t/t3200-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t3200-branch.sh
@@ -836,35 +836,6 @@ test_expect_success 'renaming a symref is not allowed' '
 	test_ref_missing refs/heads/new-topic
 '
 
-test_expect_success SYMLINKS,REFFILES 'git branch -m u v should fail when the reflog for u is a symlink' '
-	git branch --create-reflog u &&
-	mv .git/logs/refs/heads/u real-u &&
-	ln -s real-u .git/logs/refs/heads/u &&
-	test_must_fail git branch -m u v
-'
-
-test_expect_success SYMLINKS,REFFILES 'git branch -m with symlinked .git/refs' '
-	test_when_finished "rm -rf subdir" &&
-	git init --bare subdir &&
-
-	rm -rfv subdir/refs subdir/objects subdir/packed-refs &&
-	ln -s ../.git/refs subdir/refs &&
-	ln -s ../.git/objects subdir/objects &&
-	ln -s ../.git/packed-refs subdir/packed-refs &&
-
-	git -C subdir rev-parse --absolute-git-dir >subdir.dir &&
-	git rev-parse --absolute-git-dir >our.dir &&
-	! test_cmp subdir.dir our.dir &&
-
-	git -C subdir log &&
-	git -C subdir branch rename-src &&
-	git rev-parse rename-src >expect &&
-	git -C subdir branch -m rename-src rename-dest &&
-	git rev-parse rename-dest >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect actual &&
-	git branch -D rename-dest
-'
-
 test_expect_success 'test tracking setup via --track' '
 	git config remote.local.url . &&
 	git config remote.local.fetch refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/local/* &&
diff --git a/t/t3400-rebase.sh b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
index 57f1392926..e1c8c5f701 100755
--- a/t/t3400-rebase.sh
+++ b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
@@ -424,16 +424,6 @@ test_expect_success 'refuse to switch to branch checked out elsewhere' '
 	test_grep "already used by worktree at" err
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES,MINGW,SYMLINKS_WINDOWS 'rebase when .git/logs is a symlink' '
-	git checkout main &&
-	mv .git/logs actual_logs &&
-	cmd //c "mklink /D .git\logs ..\actual_logs" &&
-	git rebase -f HEAD^ &&
-	test -L .git/logs &&
-	rm .git/logs &&
-	mv actual_logs .git/logs
-'
-
 test_expect_success 'rebase when inside worktree subdirectory' '
 	git init main-wt &&
 	(
diff --git a/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh b/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh
index f6aebe92ff..5ab4d41ee7 100755
--- a/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh
@@ -396,10 +396,7 @@ test_expect_success '--prune-empty is able to prune entire branch' '
 	git branch prune-entire B &&
 	git filter-branch -f --prune-empty --index-filter "git update-index --remove A.t B.t" prune-entire &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse refs/heads/prune-entire &&
-	if test_have_prereq REFFILES
-	then
-		test_must_fail git reflog exists refs/heads/prune-entire
-	fi
+	test_must_fail git reflog exists refs/heads/prune-entire
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--remap-to-ancestor with filename filters' '