diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 1bbf9b44df..c4b4d674bd 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -539,10 +539,6 @@ static int add_branch_for_removal(const char *refname,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	/* make sure that symrefs are deleted */
-	if (flags & REF_ISSYMREF)
-		return unlink(git_path("%s", refname));
-
 	string_list_append(branches->branches, refname);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -788,7 +784,7 @@ static int rm(int argc, const char **argv)
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 
 	if (!result)
-		result = delete_refs(&branches, 0);
+		result = delete_refs(&branches, REF_NODEREF);
 	string_list_clear(&branches, 0);
 
 	if (skipped.nr) {