diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index 6805b9e6bb..7a69f1a083 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -1065,4 +1065,32 @@ test_expect_success 'stdin -z delete refs works with packed and loose refs' '
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify -q $c
 '
 
+run_with_limited_open_files () {
+	(ulimit -n 32 && "$@")
+}
+
+test_lazy_prereq ULIMIT_FILE_DESCRIPTORS 'run_with_limited_open_files true'
+
+test_expect_failure ULIMIT_FILE_DESCRIPTORS 'large transaction creating branches does not burst open file limit' '
+(
+	for i in $(test_seq 33)
+	do
+		echo "create refs/heads/$i HEAD"
+	done >large_input &&
+	run_with_limited_open_files git update-ref --stdin <large_input &&
+	git rev-parse --verify -q refs/heads/33
+)
+'
+
+test_expect_failure ULIMIT_FILE_DESCRIPTORS 'large transaction deleting branches does not burst open file limit' '
+(
+	for i in $(test_seq 33)
+	do
+		echo "delete refs/heads/$i HEAD"
+	done >large_input &&
+	run_with_limited_open_files git update-ref --stdin <large_input &&
+	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify -q refs/heads/33
+)
+'
+
 test_done