diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index b955d4f316..5c12036b02 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -345,7 +345,8 @@ void die_if_checked_out(const char *branch, int ignore_current_worktree)
 	    branch, wt->path);
 }
 
-int replace_each_worktree_head_symref(const char *oldref, const char *newref)
+int replace_each_worktree_head_symref(const char *oldref, const char *newref,
+				      const char *logmsg)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 	struct worktree **worktrees = get_worktrees(0);
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ int replace_each_worktree_head_symref(const char *oldref, const char *newref)
 			continue;
 
 		if (set_worktree_head_symref(get_worktree_git_dir(worktrees[i]),
-					     newref)) {
+					     newref, logmsg)) {
 			ret = -1;
 			error(_("HEAD of working tree %s is not updated"),
 			      worktrees[i]->path);
diff --git a/branch.h b/branch.h
index 3103eb9add..b07788558c 100644
--- a/branch.h
+++ b/branch.h
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ extern void die_if_checked_out(const char *branch, int ignore_current_worktree);
  * This will be used when renaming a branch. Returns 0 if successful, non-zero
  * otherwise.
  */
-extern int replace_each_worktree_head_symref(const char *oldref, const char *newref);
+extern int replace_each_worktree_head_symref(const char *oldref, const char *newref,
+					     const char *logmsg);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/builtin/am.c b/builtin/am.c
index 31fb60578f..f7a7a971fb 100644
--- a/builtin/am.c
+++ b/builtin/am.c
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ static void am_setup(struct am_state *state, enum patch_format patch_format,
 	} else {
 		write_state_text(state, "abort-safety", "");
 		if (!state->rebasing)
-			delete_ref("ORIG_HEAD", NULL, 0);
+			delete_ref(NULL, "ORIG_HEAD", NULL, 0);
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -2172,7 +2172,7 @@ static void am_abort(struct am_state *state)
 				has_curr_head ? &curr_head : NULL, 0,
 				UPDATE_REFS_DIE_ON_ERR);
 	else if (curr_branch)
-		delete_ref(curr_branch, NULL, REF_NODEREF);
+		delete_ref(NULL, curr_branch, NULL, REF_NODEREF);
 
 	free(curr_branch);
 	am_destroy(state);
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index cbaa6d03c0..94f7de7fa5 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ static int delete_branches(int argc, const char **argv, int force, int kinds,
 			goto next;
 		}
 
-		if (delete_ref(name, is_null_sha1(sha1) ? NULL : sha1,
+		if (delete_ref(NULL, name, is_null_sha1(sha1) ? NULL : sha1,
 			       REF_NODEREF)) {
 			error(remote_branch
 			      ? _("Error deleting remote-tracking branch '%s'")
@@ -471,14 +471,15 @@ static void rename_branch(const char *oldname, const char *newname, int force)
 
 	if (rename_ref(oldref.buf, newref.buf, logmsg.buf))
 		die(_("Branch rename failed"));
-	strbuf_release(&logmsg);
 
 	if (recovery)
 		warning(_("Renamed a misnamed branch '%s' away"), oldref.buf + 11);
 
-	if (replace_each_worktree_head_symref(oldref.buf, newref.buf))
+	if (replace_each_worktree_head_symref(oldref.buf, newref.buf, logmsg.buf))
 		die(_("Branch renamed to %s, but HEAD is not updated!"), newname);
 
+	strbuf_release(&logmsg);
+
 	strbuf_addf(&oldsection, "branch.%s", oldref.buf + 11);
 	strbuf_release(&oldref);
 	strbuf_addf(&newsection, "branch.%s", newref.buf + 11);
diff --git a/builtin/notes.c b/builtin/notes.c
index 5248a9bad8..4b492abd41 100644
--- a/builtin/notes.c
+++ b/builtin/notes.c
@@ -681,9 +681,9 @@ static int merge_abort(struct notes_merge_options *o)
 	 * notes_merge_abort() to remove .git/NOTES_MERGE_WORKTREE.
 	 */
 
-	if (delete_ref("NOTES_MERGE_PARTIAL", NULL, 0))
+	if (delete_ref(NULL, "NOTES_MERGE_PARTIAL", NULL, 0))
 		ret += error(_("failed to delete ref NOTES_MERGE_PARTIAL"));
-	if (delete_ref("NOTES_MERGE_REF", NULL, REF_NODEREF))
+	if (delete_ref(NULL, "NOTES_MERGE_REF", NULL, REF_NODEREF))
 		ret += error(_("failed to delete ref NOTES_MERGE_REF"));
 	if (notes_merge_abort(o))
 		ret += error(_("failed to remove 'git notes merge' worktree"));
diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 5339ed6ad1..2b415911bf 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ static int mv(int argc, const char **argv)
 		read_ref_full(item->string, RESOLVE_REF_READING, oid.hash, &flag);
 		if (!(flag & REF_ISSYMREF))
 			continue;
-		if (delete_ref(item->string, NULL, REF_NODEREF))
+		if (delete_ref(NULL, item->string, NULL, REF_NODEREF))
 			die(_("deleting '%s' failed"), item->string);
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < remote_branches.nr; i++) {
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ static int set_head(int argc, const char **argv)
 			head_name = xstrdup(states.heads.items[0].string);
 		free_remote_ref_states(&states);
 	} else if (opt_d && !opt_a && argc == 1) {
-		if (delete_ref(buf.buf, NULL, REF_NODEREF))
+		if (delete_ref(NULL, buf.buf, NULL, REF_NODEREF))
 			result |= error(_("Could not delete %s"), buf.buf);
 	} else
 		usage_with_options(builtin_remote_sethead_usage, options);
diff --git a/builtin/replace.c b/builtin/replace.c
index b58c714cb8..226d0f9523 100644
--- a/builtin/replace.c
+++ b/builtin/replace.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ static int for_each_replace_name(const char **argv, each_replace_name_fn fn)
 static int delete_replace_ref(const char *name, const char *ref,
 			      const unsigned char *sha1)
 {
-	if (delete_ref(ref, sha1, 0))
+	if (delete_ref(NULL, ref, sha1, 0))
 		return 1;
 	printf("Deleted replace ref '%s'\n", name);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/builtin/reset.c b/builtin/reset.c
index 8ab915bfcb..fc3b906c47 100644
--- a/builtin/reset.c
+++ b/builtin/reset.c
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ static int reset_refs(const char *rev, const struct object_id *oid)
 		update_ref_oid(msg.buf, "ORIG_HEAD", orig, old_orig, 0,
 			   UPDATE_REFS_MSG_ON_ERR);
 	} else if (old_orig)
-		delete_ref("ORIG_HEAD", old_orig->hash, 0);
+		delete_ref(NULL, "ORIG_HEAD", old_orig->hash, 0);
 	set_reflog_message(&msg, "updating HEAD", rev);
 	update_ref_status = update_ref_oid(msg.buf, "HEAD", oid, orig, 0,
 				       UPDATE_REFS_MSG_ON_ERR);
diff --git a/builtin/symbolic-ref.c b/builtin/symbolic-ref.c
index 96eed94468..70addef158 100644
--- a/builtin/symbolic-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/symbolic-ref.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ int cmd_symbolic_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			die("Cannot delete %s, not a symbolic ref", argv[0]);
 		if (!strcmp(argv[0], "HEAD"))
 			die("deleting '%s' is not allowed", argv[0]);
-		return delete_ref(argv[0], NULL, REF_NODEREF);
+		return delete_ref(NULL, argv[0], NULL, REF_NODEREF);
 	}
 
 	switch (argc) {
diff --git a/builtin/tag.c b/builtin/tag.c
index e5e2c6a446..ad29be6923 100644
--- a/builtin/tag.c
+++ b/builtin/tag.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static int for_each_tag_name(const char **argv, each_tag_name_fn fn,
 static int delete_tag(const char *name, const char *ref,
 		      const unsigned char *sha1, const void *cb_data)
 {
-	if (delete_ref(ref, sha1, 0))
+	if (delete_ref(NULL, ref, sha1, 0))
 		return 1;
 	printf(_("Deleted tag '%s' (was %s)\n"), name, find_unique_abbrev(sha1, DEFAULT_ABBREV));
 	return 0;
diff --git a/builtin/update-ref.c b/builtin/update-ref.c
index 7f30d3a76f..0b2ecf41ae 100644
--- a/builtin/update-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/update-ref.c
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ int cmd_update_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		 * For purposes of backwards compatibility, we treat
 		 * NULL_SHA1 as "don't care" here:
 		 */
-		return delete_ref(refname,
+		return delete_ref(msg, refname,
 				  (oldval && !is_null_sha1(oldsha1)) ? oldsha1 : NULL,
 				  flags);
 	else
diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index 64fe602f0b..6c13472c42 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -1752,7 +1752,7 @@ static int update_branch(struct branch *b)
 
 	if (is_null_sha1(b->sha1)) {
 		if (b->delete)
-			delete_ref(b->name, NULL, 0);
+			delete_ref(NULL, b->name, NULL, 0);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (read_ref(b->name, old_sha1))
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 81b64b4ed5..6d0961921b 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -592,8 +592,8 @@ static int delete_pseudoref(const char *pseudoref, const unsigned char *old_sha1
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int delete_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-	       unsigned int flags)
+int delete_ref(const char *msg, const char *refname,
+	       const unsigned char *old_sha1, unsigned int flags)
 {
 	struct ref_transaction *transaction;
 	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ int delete_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
 	if (!transaction ||
 	    ref_transaction_delete(transaction, refname, old_sha1,
-				   flags, NULL, &err) ||
+				   flags, msg, &err) ||
 	    ref_transaction_commit(transaction, &err)) {
 		error("%s", err.buf);
 		ref_transaction_free(transaction);
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 9fbff90e79..e529f4c3a8 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -276,8 +276,8 @@ int reflog_exists(const char *refname);
  * exists, regardless of its old value. It is an error for old_sha1 to
  * be NULL_SHA1. flags is passed through to ref_transaction_delete().
  */
-int delete_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-	       unsigned int flags);
+int delete_ref(const char *msg, const char *refname,
+	       const unsigned char *old_sha1, unsigned int flags);
 
 /*
  * Delete the specified references. If there are any problems, emit
@@ -334,7 +334,8 @@ int create_symref(const char *refname, const char *target, const char *logmsg);
  * $GIT_DIR points to.
  * Return 0 if successful, non-zero otherwise.
  * */
-int set_worktree_head_symref(const char *gitdir, const char *target);
+int set_worktree_head_symref(const char *gitdir, const char *target,
+			     const char *logmsg);
 
 enum action_on_err {
 	UPDATE_REFS_MSG_ON_ERR,
diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index db3bd42a91..b42df147c9 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -2481,7 +2481,7 @@ static int files_delete_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	for (i = 0; i < refnames->nr; i++) {
 		const char *refname = refnames->items[i].string;
 
-		if (delete_ref(refname, NULL, flags))
+		if (delete_ref(NULL, refname, NULL, flags))
 			result |= error(_("could not remove reference %s"), refname);
 	}
 
@@ -2596,7 +2596,7 @@ static int files_rename_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 		return error("unable to move logfile logs/%s to "TMP_RENAMED_LOG": %s",
 			oldrefname, strerror(errno));
 
-	if (delete_ref(oldrefname, orig_sha1, REF_NODEREF)) {
+	if (delete_ref(logmsg, oldrefname, orig_sha1, REF_NODEREF)) {
 		error("unable to delete old %s", oldrefname);
 		goto rollback;
 	}
@@ -2610,7 +2610,7 @@ static int files_rename_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	 */
 	if (!read_ref_full(newrefname, RESOLVE_REF_READING | RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE,
 			   sha1, NULL) &&
-	    delete_ref(newrefname, NULL, REF_NODEREF)) {
+	    delete_ref(NULL, newrefname, NULL, REF_NODEREF)) {
 		if (errno == EISDIR) {
 			struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
 			int result;
@@ -3044,7 +3044,7 @@ static int files_create_symref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int set_worktree_head_symref(const char *gitdir, const char *target)
+int set_worktree_head_symref(const char *gitdir, const char *target, const char *logmsg)
 {
 	static struct lock_file head_lock;
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
@@ -3072,7 +3072,7 @@ int set_worktree_head_symref(const char *gitdir, const char *target)
 	lock->lk = &head_lock;
 	lock->ref_name = xstrdup(head_rel);
 
-	ret = create_symref_locked(lock, head_rel, target, NULL);
+	ret = create_symref_locked(lock, head_rel, target, logmsg);
 
 	unlock_ref(lock); /* will free lock */
 	strbuf_release(&head_path);
diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index e208009906..825422341d 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -85,6 +85,24 @@ test_expect_success "delete $m (by HEAD)" '
 '
 rm -f .git/$m
 
+test_expect_success "deleting current branch adds message to HEAD's log" '
+	git update-ref $m $A &&
+	git symbolic-ref HEAD $m &&
+	git update-ref -m delete-$m -d $m &&
+	! test -f .git/$m &&
+	grep "delete-$m$" .git/logs/HEAD
+'
+rm -f .git/$m
+
+test_expect_success "deleting by HEAD adds message to HEAD's log" '
+	git update-ref $m $A &&
+	git symbolic-ref HEAD $m &&
+	git update-ref -m delete-by-head -d HEAD &&
+	! test -f .git/$m &&
+	grep "delete-by-head$" .git/logs/HEAD
+'
+rm -f .git/$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 &&
diff --git a/t/t3200-branch.sh b/t/t3200-branch.sh
index 8a833f354e..e36ed3b4e1 100755
--- a/t/t3200-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t3200-branch.sh
@@ -139,6 +139,12 @@ test_expect_success 'git branch -M baz bam should succeed when baz is checked ou
 	test $(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD) = bam
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'git branch -M baz bam should add entries to .git/logs/HEAD' '
+	msg="Branch: renamed refs/heads/baz to refs/heads/bam" &&
+	grep " 0\{40\}.*$msg$" .git/logs/HEAD &&
+	grep "^0\{40\}.*$msg$" .git/logs/HEAD
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'git branch -M baz bam should succeed when baz is checked out as linked working tree' '
 	git checkout master &&
 	git worktree add -b baz bazdir &&
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 48864b3a9e..5828e06afd 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ void transport_update_tracking_ref(struct remote *remote, struct ref *ref, int v
 		if (verbose)
 			fprintf(stderr, "updating local tracking ref '%s'\n", rs.dst);
 		if (ref->deletion) {
-			delete_ref(rs.dst, NULL, 0);
+			delete_ref(NULL, rs.dst, NULL, 0);
 		} else
 			update_ref("update by push", rs.dst,
 					ref->new_oid.hash, NULL, 0, 0);