diff --git a/Documentation/git-reflog.txt b/Documentation/git-reflog.txt
index 5e7908e4f7..44c736f1a8 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-reflog.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-reflog.txt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ depending on the subcommand:
 	[--dry-run] [--verbose] [--all | <refs>...]
 'git reflog delete' [--rewrite] [--updateref]
 	[--dry-run] [--verbose] ref@\{specifier\}...
+'git reflog exists' <ref>
 
 Reference logs, or "reflogs", record when the tips of branches and
 other references were updated in the local repository. Reflogs are
@@ -52,6 +53,9 @@ argument must be an _exact_ entry (e.g. "`git reflog delete
 master@{2}`"). This subcommand is also typically not used directly by
 end users.
 
+The "exists" subcommand checks whether a ref has a reflog.  It exits
+with zero status if the reflog exists, and non-zero status if it does
+not.
 
 OPTIONS
 -------
diff --git a/Documentation/git-tag.txt b/Documentation/git-tag.txt
index 4b04c2b7d5..84f6496bf2 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-tag.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-tag.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 	<tagname> [<commit> | <object>]
 'git tag' -d <tagname>...
 'git tag' [-n[<num>]] -l [--contains <commit>] [--points-at <object>]
-	[--column[=<options>] | --no-column] [<pattern>...]
+	[--column[=<options>] | --no-column] [--create-reflog] [<pattern>...]
 'git tag' -v <tagname>...
 
 DESCRIPTION
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ This option is only applicable when listing tags without annotation lines.
 	all, 'whitespace' removes just leading/trailing whitespace lines and
 	'strip' removes both whitespace and commentary.
 
+--create-reflog::
+	Create a reflog for the tag.
+
 <tagname>::
 	The name of the tag to create, delete, or describe.
 	The new tag name must pass all checks defined by
diff --git a/Documentation/git-update-ref.txt b/Documentation/git-update-ref.txt
index c8f5ae5cb3..969bfab2ab 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-update-ref.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-update-ref.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ git-update-ref - Update the object name stored in a ref safely
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [verse]
-'git update-ref' [-m <reason>] (-d <ref> [<oldvalue>] | [--no-deref] <ref> <newvalue> [<oldvalue>] | --stdin [-z])
+'git update-ref' [-m <reason>] (-d <ref> [<oldvalue>] | [--no-deref] [--create-reflog] <ref> <newvalue> [<oldvalue>] | --stdin [-z])
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ performs all modifications together.  Specify commands of the form:
 	verify SP <ref> [SP <oldvalue>] LF
 	option SP <opt> LF
 
+With `--create-reflog`, update-ref will create a reflog for each ref
+even if one would not ordinarily be created.
+
 Quote fields containing whitespace as if they were strings in C source
 code; i.e., surrounded by double-quotes and with backslash escapes.
 Use 40 "0" characters or the empty string to specify a zero value.  To
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index f71844a23a..9ff5ca4cbe 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -612,22 +612,20 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	if (opts->new_branch) {
 		if (opts->new_orphan_branch) {
 			if (opts->new_branch_log && !log_all_ref_updates) {
-				int temp;
-				struct strbuf log_file = STRBUF_INIT;
 				int ret;
-				const char *ref_name;
+				char *refname;
+				struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-				ref_name = mkpath("refs/heads/%s", opts->new_orphan_branch);
-				temp = log_all_ref_updates;
-				log_all_ref_updates = 1;
-				ret = log_ref_setup(ref_name, &log_file);
-				log_all_ref_updates = temp;
-				strbuf_release(&log_file);
+				refname = mkpathdup("refs/heads/%s", opts->new_orphan_branch);
+				ret = safe_create_reflog(refname, 1, &err);
+				free(refname);
 				if (ret) {
-					fprintf(stderr, _("Can not do reflog for '%s'\n"),
-					    opts->new_orphan_branch);
+					fprintf(stderr, _("Can not do reflog for '%s': %s\n"),
+						opts->new_orphan_branch, err.buf);
+					strbuf_release(&err);
 					return;
 				}
+				strbuf_release(&err);
 			}
 		}
 		else
diff --git a/builtin/reflog.c b/builtin/reflog.c
index c2eb8ff840..7ed0e8501c 100644
--- a/builtin/reflog.c
+++ b/builtin/reflog.c
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ static const char reflog_expire_usage[] =
 "git reflog expire [--expire=<time>] [--expire-unreachable=<time>] [--rewrite] [--updateref] [--stale-fix] [--dry-run | -n] [--verbose] [--all] <refs>...";
 static const char reflog_delete_usage[] =
 "git reflog delete [--rewrite] [--updateref] [--dry-run | -n] [--verbose] <refs>...";
+static const char reflog_exists_usage[] =
+"git reflog exists <ref>";
 
 static unsigned long default_reflog_expire;
 static unsigned long default_reflog_expire_unreachable;
@@ -699,12 +701,38 @@ static int cmd_reflog_delete(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	return status;
 }
 
+static int cmd_reflog_exists(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
+{
+	int i, start = 0;
+
+	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
+		const char *arg = argv[i];
+		if (!strcmp(arg, "--")) {
+			i++;
+			break;
+		}
+		else if (arg[0] == '-')
+			usage(reflog_exists_usage);
+		else
+			break;
+	}
+
+	start = i;
+
+	if (argc - start != 1)
+		usage(reflog_exists_usage);
+
+	if (check_refname_format(argv[start], REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL))
+		die("invalid ref format: %s", argv[start]);
+	return !reflog_exists(argv[start]);
+}
+
 /*
  * main "reflog"
  */
 
 static const char reflog_usage[] =
-"git reflog [ show | expire | delete ]";
+"git reflog [ show | expire | delete | exists ]";
 
 int cmd_reflog(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
@@ -724,5 +752,8 @@ int cmd_reflog(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (!strcmp(argv[1], "delete"))
 		return cmd_reflog_delete(argc - 1, argv + 1, prefix);
 
+	if (!strcmp(argv[1], "exists"))
+		return cmd_reflog_exists(argc - 1, argv + 1, prefix);
+
 	return cmd_log_reflog(argc, argv, prefix);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/tag.c b/builtin/tag.c
index 5f6cdc5a03..cccca99104 100644
--- a/builtin/tag.c
+++ b/builtin/tag.c
@@ -579,6 +579,7 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct create_tag_options opt;
 	char *cleanup_arg = NULL;
 	int annotate = 0, force = 0, lines = -1;
+	int create_reflog = 0;
 	int cmdmode = 0;
 	const char *msgfile = NULL, *keyid = NULL;
 	struct msg_arg msg = { 0, STRBUF_INIT };
@@ -605,6 +606,7 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_STRING('u', "local-user", &keyid, N_("key-id"),
 					N_("use another key to sign the tag")),
 		OPT__FORCE(&force, N_("replace the tag if exists")),
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "create-reflog", &create_reflog, N_("create_reflog")),
 
 		OPT_GROUP(N_("Tag listing options")),
 		OPT_COLUMN(0, "column", &colopts, N_("show tag list in columns")),
@@ -733,7 +735,8 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
 	if (!transaction ||
 	    ref_transaction_update(transaction, ref.buf, object, prev,
-				   0, NULL, &err) ||
+				   create_reflog ? REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG : 0,
+				   NULL, &err) ||
 	    ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &err))
 		die("%s", err.buf);
 	ref_transaction_free(transaction);
diff --git a/builtin/update-ref.c b/builtin/update-ref.c
index 6763cf1837..04dd00f734 100644
--- a/builtin/update-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/update-ref.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ static const char * const git_update_ref_usage[] = {
 
 static char line_termination = '\n';
 static int update_flags;
+static unsigned create_reflog_flag;
 static const char *msg;
 
 /*
@@ -200,7 +201,8 @@ static const char *parse_cmd_update(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 
 	if (ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname,
 				   new_sha1, have_old ? old_sha1 : NULL,
-				   update_flags, msg, &err))
+				   update_flags | create_reflog_flag,
+				   msg, &err))
 		die("%s", err.buf);
 
 	update_flags = 0;
@@ -231,7 +233,8 @@ static const char *parse_cmd_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 		die("create %s: extra input: %s", refname, next);
 
 	if (ref_transaction_create(transaction, refname, new_sha1,
-				   update_flags, msg, &err))
+				   update_flags | create_reflog_flag,
+				   msg, &err))
 		die("%s", err.buf);
 
 	update_flags = 0;
@@ -354,6 +357,7 @@ int cmd_update_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	unsigned char sha1[20], oldsha1[20];
 	int delete = 0, no_deref = 0, read_stdin = 0, end_null = 0;
 	unsigned int flags = 0;
+	int create_reflog = 0;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_STRING( 'm', NULL, &msg, N_("reason"), N_("reason of the update")),
 		OPT_BOOL('d', NULL, &delete, N_("delete the reference")),
@@ -361,6 +365,7 @@ int cmd_update_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 					N_("update <refname> not the one it points to")),
 		OPT_BOOL('z', NULL, &end_null, N_("stdin has NUL-terminated arguments")),
 		OPT_BOOL( 0 , "stdin", &read_stdin, N_("read updates from stdin")),
+		OPT_BOOL( 0 , "create-reflog", &create_reflog, N_("create_reflog")),
 		OPT_END(),
 	};
 
@@ -370,6 +375,8 @@ int cmd_update_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (msg && !*msg)
 		die("Refusing to perform update with empty message.");
 
+	create_reflog_flag = create_reflog ? REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG : 0;
+
 	if (read_stdin) {
 		struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 		struct ref_transaction *transaction;
@@ -431,5 +438,6 @@ int cmd_update_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				  flags);
 	else
 		return update_ref(msg, refname, sha1, oldval ? oldsha1 : NULL,
-				  flags, UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR);
+				  flags | create_reflog_flag,
+				  UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR);
 }
diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index 8e9e2cd7d5..1d5ba7a4f9 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -183,9 +183,7 @@ store_stash () {
 		stash_msg="Created via \"git stash store\"."
 	fi
 
-	# Make sure the reflog for stash is kept.
-	: >>"$(git rev-parse --git-path logs/$ref_stash)"
-	git update-ref -m "$stash_msg" $ref_stash $w_commit
+	git update-ref --create-reflog -m "$stash_msg" $ref_stash $w_commit
 	ret=$?
 	test $ret != 0 && test -z $quiet &&
 	die "$(eval_gettext "Cannot update \$ref_stash with \$w_commit")"
@@ -262,7 +260,7 @@ save_stash () {
 		say "$(gettext "No local changes to save")"
 		exit 0
 	fi
-	test -f "$(git rev-parse --git-path logs/$ref_stash)" ||
+	git reflog exists $ref_stash ||
 		clear_stash || die "$(gettext "Cannot initialize stash")"
 
 	create_stash "$stash_msg" $untracked
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index ce8cd8d450..0b96ece4ec 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ static unsigned char refname_disposition[256] = {
  */
 #define REF_NEEDS_COMMIT 0x20
 
+/*
+ * 0x40 is REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG, so skip it if you're adding a
+ * value to ref_update::flags
+ */
+
 /*
  * Try to read one refname component from the front of refname.
  * Return the length of the component found, or -1 if the component is
@@ -2975,9 +2980,11 @@ static int rename_ref_available(const char *oldname, const char *newname)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock, const unsigned char *sha1);
+static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
+				 const unsigned char *sha1, struct strbuf *err);
 static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
-			     const unsigned char *sha1, const char *logmsg);
+			     const unsigned char *sha1, const char *logmsg,
+			     int flags, struct strbuf *err);
 
 int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logmsg)
 {
@@ -3038,9 +3045,10 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
 	}
 	hashcpy(lock->old_oid.hash, orig_sha1);
 
-	if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, orig_sha1) ||
-	    commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, logmsg)) {
-		error("unable to write current sha1 into %s", newrefname);
+	if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, orig_sha1, &err) ||
+	    commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, logmsg, 0, &err)) {
+		error("unable to write current sha1 into %s: %s", newrefname, err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
 		goto rollback;
 	}
 
@@ -3056,9 +3064,11 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
 
 	flag = log_all_ref_updates;
 	log_all_ref_updates = 0;
-	if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, orig_sha1) ||
-	    commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, NULL))
-		error("unable to write current sha1 into %s", oldrefname);
+	if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, orig_sha1, &err) ||
+	    commit_ref_update(lock, orig_sha1, NULL, 0, &err)) {
+		error("unable to write current sha1 into %s: %s", oldrefname, err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+	}
 	log_all_ref_updates = flag;
 
  rollbacklog:
@@ -3113,8 +3123,23 @@ static int copy_msg(char *buf, const char *msg)
 	return cp - buf;
 }
 
-/* This function must set a meaningful errno on failure */
-int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *sb_logfile)
+static int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname)
+{
+	if (!log_all_ref_updates)
+		return 0;
+	return starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
+		starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
+		starts_with(refname, "refs/notes/") ||
+		!strcmp(refname, "HEAD");
+}
+
+/*
+ * Create a reflog for a ref.  If force_create = 0, the reflog will
+ * only be created for certain refs (those for which
+ * should_autocreate_reflog returns non-zero.  Otherwise, create it
+ * regardless of the ref name.  Fill in *err and return -1 on failure.
+ */
+static int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *sb_logfile, struct strbuf *err, int force_create)
 {
 	int logfd, oflags = O_APPEND | O_WRONLY;
 	char *logfile;
@@ -3123,15 +3148,10 @@ int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *sb_logfile)
 	logfile = sb_logfile->buf;
 	/* make sure the rest of the function can't change "logfile" */
 	sb_logfile = NULL;
-	if (log_all_ref_updates &&
-	    (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/") ||
-	     starts_with(refname, "refs/remotes/") ||
-	     starts_with(refname, "refs/notes/") ||
-	     !strcmp(refname, "HEAD"))) {
+	if (force_create || should_autocreate_reflog(refname)) {
 		if (safe_create_leading_directories(logfile) < 0) {
-			int save_errno = errno;
-			error("unable to create directory for %s", logfile);
-			errno = save_errno;
+			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for %s: "
+				    "%s", logfile, strerror(errno));
 			return -1;
 		}
 		oflags |= O_CREAT;
@@ -3144,20 +3164,16 @@ int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *sb_logfile)
 
 		if (errno == EISDIR) {
 			if (remove_empty_directories(logfile)) {
-				int save_errno = errno;
-				error("There are still logs under '%s'",
-				      logfile);
-				errno = save_errno;
+				strbuf_addf(err, "There are still logs under "
+					    "'%s'", logfile);
 				return -1;
 			}
 			logfd = open(logfile, oflags, 0666);
 		}
 
 		if (logfd < 0) {
-			int save_errno = errno;
-			error("Unable to append to %s: %s", logfile,
-			      strerror(errno));
-			errno = save_errno;
+			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to %s: %s",
+				    logfile, strerror(errno));
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
@@ -3167,6 +3183,17 @@ int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *sb_logfile)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+
+int safe_create_reflog(const char *refname, int force_create, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	int ret;
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	ret = log_ref_setup(refname, &sb, err, force_create);
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static int log_ref_write_fd(int fd, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 			    const unsigned char *new_sha1,
 			    const char *committer, const char *msg)
@@ -3195,7 +3222,8 @@ static int log_ref_write_fd(int fd, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 
 static int log_ref_write_1(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 			   const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
-			   struct strbuf *sb_log_file)
+			   struct strbuf *sb_log_file, int flags,
+			   struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	int logfd, result, oflags = O_APPEND | O_WRONLY;
 	char *log_file;
@@ -3203,7 +3231,8 @@ static int log_ref_write_1(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	if (log_all_ref_updates < 0)
 		log_all_ref_updates = !is_bare_repository();
 
-	result = log_ref_setup(refname, sb_log_file);
+	result = log_ref_setup(refname, sb_log_file, err, flags & REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG);
+
 	if (result)
 		return result;
 	log_file = sb_log_file->buf;
@@ -3216,26 +3245,26 @@ static int log_ref_write_1(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	result = log_ref_write_fd(logfd, old_sha1, new_sha1,
 				  git_committer_info(0), msg);
 	if (result) {
-		int save_errno = errno;
+		strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to %s: %s", log_file,
+			    strerror(errno));
 		close(logfd);
-		error("Unable to append to %s", log_file);
-		errno = save_errno;
 		return -1;
 	}
 	if (close(logfd)) {
-		int save_errno = errno;
-		error("Unable to append to %s", log_file);
-		errno = save_errno;
+		strbuf_addf(err, "unable to append to %s: %s", log_file,
+			    strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-			 const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg)
+			 const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg,
+			 int flags, struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
-	int ret = log_ref_write_1(refname, old_sha1, new_sha1, msg, &sb);
+	int ret = log_ref_write_1(refname, old_sha1, new_sha1, msg, &sb, flags,
+				  err);
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -3247,36 +3276,36 @@ int is_branch(const char *refname)
 
 /*
  * Write sha1 into the open lockfile, then close the lockfile. On
- * errors, rollback the lockfile and set errno to reflect the problem.
+ * errors, rollback the lockfile, fill in *err and
+ * return -1.
  */
 static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
-				 const unsigned char *sha1)
+				 const unsigned char *sha1, struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	static char term = '\n';
 	struct object *o;
 
 	o = parse_object(sha1);
 	if (!o) {
-		error("Trying to write ref %s with nonexistent object %s",
-			lock->ref_name, sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "Trying to write ref %s with nonexistent object %s",
+			    lock->ref_name, sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 		unlock_ref(lock);
-		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -1;
 	}
 	if (o->type != OBJ_COMMIT && is_branch(lock->ref_name)) {
-		error("Trying to write non-commit object %s to branch %s",
-			sha1_to_hex(sha1), lock->ref_name);
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "Trying to write non-commit object %s to branch %s",
+			    sha1_to_hex(sha1), lock->ref_name);
 		unlock_ref(lock);
-		errno = EINVAL;
 		return -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);
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "Couldn't write %s", lock->lk->filename.buf);
 		unlock_ref(lock);
-		errno = save_errno;
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -3288,12 +3317,17 @@ static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
  * necessary, using the specified lockmsg (which can be NULL).
  */
 static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
-			     const unsigned char *sha1, const char *logmsg)
+			     const unsigned char *sha1, const char *logmsg,
+			     int flags, struct strbuf *err)
 {
 	clear_loose_ref_cache(&ref_cache);
-	if (log_ref_write(lock->ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg) < 0 ||
+	if (log_ref_write(lock->ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg, flags, err) < 0 ||
 	    (strcmp(lock->ref_name, lock->orig_ref_name) &&
-	     log_ref_write(lock->orig_ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg) < 0)) {
+	     log_ref_write(lock->orig_ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg, flags, err) < 0)) {
+		char *old_msg = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+		strbuf_addf(err, "Cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
+			    lock->ref_name, old_msg);
+		free(old_msg);
 		unlock_ref(lock);
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -3316,14 +3350,21 @@ static int commit_ref_update(struct ref_lock *lock,
 		head_ref = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_READING,
 					      head_sha1, &head_flag);
 		if (head_ref && (head_flag & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
-		    !strcmp(head_ref, lock->ref_name))
-			log_ref_write("HEAD", lock->old_oid.hash, sha1, logmsg);
+		    !strcmp(head_ref, lock->ref_name)) {
+			struct strbuf log_err = STRBUF_INIT;
+			if (log_ref_write("HEAD", lock->old_oid.hash, sha1,
+					  logmsg, 0, &log_err)) {
+				error("%s", log_err.buf);
+				strbuf_release(&log_err);
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	if (commit_ref(lock)) {
 		error("Couldn't set %s", lock->ref_name);
 		unlock_ref(lock);
 		return -1;
 	}
+
 	unlock_ref(lock);
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -3336,6 +3377,7 @@ int create_symref(const char *ref_target, const char *refs_heads_master,
 	int fd, len, written;
 	char *git_HEAD = git_pathdup("%s", ref_target);
 	unsigned char old_sha1[20], new_sha1[20];
+	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	if (logmsg && read_ref(ref_target, old_sha1))
 		hashclr(old_sha1);
@@ -3384,8 +3426,11 @@ int create_symref(const char *ref_target, const char *refs_heads_master,
 #ifndef NO_SYMLINK_HEAD
 	done:
 #endif
-	if (logmsg && !read_ref(refs_heads_master, new_sha1))
-		log_ref_write(ref_target, old_sha1, new_sha1, logmsg);
+	if (logmsg && !read_ref(refs_heads_master, new_sha1) &&
+		log_ref_write(ref_target, old_sha1, new_sha1, logmsg, 0, &err)) {
+		error("%s", err.buf);
+		strbuf_release(&err);
+	}
 
 	free(git_HEAD);
 	return 0;
@@ -4021,14 +4066,19 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 				 * value, so we don't need to write it.
 				 */
 			} else if (write_ref_to_lockfile(update->lock,
-							 update->new_sha1)) {
+							 update->new_sha1,
+							 err)) {
+				char *write_err = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+
 				/*
 				 * The lock was freed upon failure of
 				 * write_ref_to_lockfile():
 				 */
 				update->lock = NULL;
-				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot update the ref '%s'.",
-					    update->refname);
+				strbuf_addf(err,
+					    "cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
+					    update->refname, write_err);
+				free(write_err);
 				ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 				goto cleanup;
 			} else {
@@ -4054,11 +4104,10 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 
 		if (update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT) {
 			if (commit_ref_update(update->lock,
-					      update->new_sha1, update->msg)) {
+					      update->new_sha1, update->msg,
+					      update->flags, err)) {
 				/* freed by commit_ref_update(): */
 				update->lock = NULL;
-				strbuf_addf(err, "Cannot update the ref '%s'.",
-					    update->refname);
 				ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 				goto cleanup;
 			} else {
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index e82fca51f5..e4e46c3dc4 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -224,11 +224,12 @@ int pack_refs(unsigned int flags);
  * Other flags are reserved for internal use.
  */
 #define REF_NODEREF	0x01
+#define REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG 0x40
 
 /*
- * Setup reflog before using. Set errno to something meaningful on failure.
+ * Setup reflog before using. Fill in err and return -1 on failure.
  */
-int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, struct strbuf *logfile);
+int safe_create_reflog(const char *refname, int force_create, struct strbuf *err);
 
 /** Reads log for the value of ref during at_time. **/
 extern int read_ref_at(const char *refname, unsigned int flags,
diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index d787bf50f8..9d21c1927e 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 m=refs/heads/master
 n_dir=refs/heads/gu
 n=$n_dir/fixes
+outside=foo
 
 test_expect_success \
 	"create $m" \
@@ -74,6 +75,24 @@ test_expect_success "delete $m (by HEAD)" '
 '
 rm -f .git/$m
 
+test_expect_success 'update-ref does not create reflogs by default' '
+	test_when_finished "git update-ref -d $outside" &&
+	git update-ref $outside $A &&
+	git rev-parse $A >expect &&
+	git rev-parse $outside >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	test_must_fail git reflog exists $outside
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'update-ref creates reflogs with --create-reflog' '
+	test_when_finished "git update-ref -d $outside" &&
+	git update-ref --create-reflog $outside $A &&
+	git rev-parse $A >expect &&
+	git rev-parse $outside >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	git reflog exists $outside
+'
+
 test_expect_success \
 	"create $m (by HEAD)" \
 	"git update-ref HEAD $A &&
@@ -472,6 +491,25 @@ test_expect_success 'stdin create ref works' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'stdin does not create reflogs by default' '
+	test_when_finished "git update-ref -d $outside" &&
+	echo "create $outside $m" >stdin &&
+	git update-ref --stdin <stdin &&
+	git rev-parse $m >expect &&
+	git rev-parse $outside >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	test_must_fail git reflog exists $outside
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin creates reflogs with --create-reflog' '
+	echo "create $outside $m" >stdin &&
+	git update-ref --create-reflog --stdin <stdin &&
+	git rev-parse $m >expect &&
+	git rev-parse $outside >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	git reflog exists $outside
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'stdin succeeds with quoted argument' '
 	git update-ref -d $a &&
 	echo "create $a \"$m\"" >stdin &&
diff --git a/t/t1411-reflog-show.sh b/t/t1411-reflog-show.sh
index 6f47c0dd0e..3eb4f102e5 100755
--- a/t/t1411-reflog-show.sh
+++ b/t/t1411-reflog-show.sh
@@ -166,4 +166,9 @@ test_expect_success 'git log -g -p shows diffs vs. parents' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'reflog exists works' '
+	git reflog exists refs/heads/master &&
+	! git reflog exists refs/heads/nonexistent
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t7004-tag.sh b/t/t7004-tag.sh
index d1ff5c94f2..d31788cc6c 100755
--- a/t/t7004-tag.sh
+++ b/t/t7004-tag.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,19 @@ test_expect_success 'creating a tag using default HEAD should succeed' '
 	echo foo >foo &&
 	git add foo &&
 	git commit -m Foo &&
-	git tag mytag
+	git tag mytag &&
+	test_must_fail git reflog exists refs/tags/mytag
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'creating a tag with --create-reflog should create reflog' '
+	test_when_finished "git tag -d tag_with_reflog" &&
+	git tag --create-reflog tag_with_reflog &&
+	git reflog exists refs/tags/tag_with_reflog
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--create-reflog does not create reflog on failure' '
+	test_must_fail git tag --create-reflog mytag &&
+	test_must_fail git reflog exists refs/tags/mytag
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'listing all tags if one exists should succeed' '