diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 42a533aec3..7f28f92a37 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -749,13 +749,16 @@ static int mv(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 static int remove_branches(struct string_list *branches)
 {
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char **branch_names;
 	int i, result = 0;
 
 	branch_names = xmalloc(branches->nr * sizeof(*branch_names));
 	for (i = 0; i < branches->nr; i++)
 		branch_names[i] = branches->items[i].string;
-	result |= repack_without_refs(branch_names, branches->nr, NULL);
+	if (repack_without_refs(branch_names, branches->nr, &err))
+		result |= error("%s", err.buf);
+	strbuf_release(&err);
 	free(branch_names);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < branches->nr; i++) {
@@ -1332,9 +1335,13 @@ static int prune_remote(const char *remote, int dry_run)
 		delete_refs = xmalloc(states.stale.nr * sizeof(*delete_refs));
 		for (i = 0; i < states.stale.nr; i++)
 			delete_refs[i] = states.stale.items[i].util;
-		if (!dry_run)
-			result |= repack_without_refs(delete_refs,
-						      states.stale.nr, NULL);
+		if (!dry_run) {
+			struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+			if (repack_without_refs(delete_refs, states.stale.nr,
+						&err))
+				result |= error("%s", err.buf);
+			strbuf_release(&err);
+		}
 		free(delete_refs);
 	}