diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index d72b64d8b0..722321c6da 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1003,6 +1003,7 @@ struct ref {
 		merge:1,
 		nonfastforward:1,
 		not_forwardable:1,
+		update:1,
 		deletion:1;
 	enum {
 		REF_STATUS_NONE = 0,
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 51016831b9..07040b8824 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -1326,15 +1326,19 @@ void set_ref_status_for_push(struct ref *remote_refs, int send_mirror,
 
 		ref->not_forwardable = !is_forwardable(ref);
 
-		ref->nonfastforward =
+		ref->update =
 			!ref->deletion &&
-			!is_null_sha1(ref->old_sha1) &&
-			(!has_sha1_file(ref->old_sha1)
-			  || !ref_newer(ref->new_sha1, ref->old_sha1));
+			!is_null_sha1(ref->old_sha1);
 
-		if (ref->nonfastforward && !ref->force && !force_update) {
-			ref->status = REF_STATUS_REJECT_NONFASTFORWARD;
-			continue;
+		if (ref->update) {
+			ref->nonfastforward =
+				!has_sha1_file(ref->old_sha1)
+				  || !ref_newer(ref->new_sha1, ref->old_sha1);
+
+			if (ref->nonfastforward && !ref->force && !force_update) {
+				ref->status = REF_STATUS_REJECT_NONFASTFORWARD;
+				continue;
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }