diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 6ca04d3b0f..09c9f904f0 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ int head_ref(int (*fn)(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1))
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	const char *headpath = git_path("HEAD");
 	if (!read_ref(headpath, sha1))
-		fn(headpath, sha1);
-	return do_for_each_ref(get_refs_directory(), fn);
+		return fn(headpath, sha1);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int for_each_ref(int (*fn)(const char *path, const unsigned char *sha1))