diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index ac354f3795..2166a2bf15 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -598,15 +598,12 @@ static int match_explicit(struct ref *src, struct ref *dst,
 		 * way to delete 'other' ref at the remote end.
 		 */
 		matched_src = try_explicit_object_name(rs->src);
-		if (matched_src)
-			break;
-		error("src refspec %s does not match any.",
-		      rs->src);
+		if (!matched_src)
+			error("src refspec %s does not match any.", rs->src);
 		break;
 	default:
 		matched_src = NULL;
-		error("src refspec %s matches more than one.",
-		      rs->src);
+		error("src refspec %s matches more than one.", rs->src);
 		break;
 	}