diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index b1706a5731..f589e8aebf 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ static const char *update(struct command *cmd, struct shallow_info *si)
 		}
 		if (ref_transaction_delete(transaction,
 					   namespaced_name,
-					   old_oid->hash,
+					   old_oid ? old_oid->hash : NULL,
 					   0, "push", &err)) {
 			rp_error("%s", err.buf);
 			strbuf_release(&err);