diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 47e4e5380a..4f495bd762 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ struct ref_lock {
 	char *orig_ref_name;
 	struct lock_file *lk;
 	unsigned char old_sha1[20];
-	int lock_fd;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -2284,7 +2283,6 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	int attempts_remaining = 3;
 
 	lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct ref_lock));
-	lock->lock_fd = -1;
 
 	if (mustexist)
 		resolve_flags |= RESOLVE_REF_READING;
@@ -2356,8 +2354,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 		goto error_return;
 	}
 
-	lock->lock_fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file, lflags);
-	if (lock->lock_fd < 0) {
+	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file, lflags) < 0) {
 		last_errno = errno;
 		if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0)
 			/*
@@ -2868,7 +2865,6 @@ static int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	if (close_lock_file(lock->lk))
 		return -1;
-	lock->lock_fd = -1;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -2876,7 +2872,6 @@ static int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	if (commit_lock_file(lock->lk))
 		return -1;
-	lock->lock_fd = -1;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -3046,8 +3041,8 @@ static int write_ref_sha1(struct ref_lock *lock,
 		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
-	if (write_in_full(lock->lock_fd, sha1_to_hex(sha1), 40) != 40 ||
-	    write_in_full(lock->lock_fd, &term, 1) != 1 ||
+	if (write_in_full(lock->lk->fd, sha1_to_hex(sha1), 40) != 40 ||
+	    write_in_full(lock->lk->fd, &term, 1) != 1 ||
 	    close_ref(lock) < 0) {
 		int save_errno = errno;
 		error("Couldn't write %s", lock->lk->filename.buf);
@@ -4084,9 +4079,9 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 			status |= error("couldn't write %s: %s", log_file,
 					strerror(errno));
 		} else if (update &&
-			(write_in_full(lock->lock_fd,
+			   (write_in_full(lock->lk->fd,
 				sha1_to_hex(cb.last_kept_sha1), 40) != 40 ||
-			 write_str_in_full(lock->lock_fd, "\n") != 1 ||
+			 write_str_in_full(lock->lk->fd, "\n") != 1 ||
 			 close_ref(lock) < 0)) {
 			status |= error("couldn't write %s",
 					lock->lk->filename.buf);