diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index d4c2931f3a..f5f7a70c6d 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -1017,7 +1017,7 @@ static void populate_value(struct ref_array_item *ref)
 
 			head = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_READING,
 						  sha1, NULL);
-			if (!strcmp(ref->refname, head))
+			if (head && !strcmp(ref->refname, head))
 				v->s = "*";
 			else
 				v->s = " ";
diff --git a/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh b/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh
index 19a2823025..039509a9cb 100755
--- a/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh
@@ -553,4 +553,14 @@ test_expect_success 'Verify sort with multiple keys' '
 		refs/tags/bogo refs/tags/master > actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
+
+test_expect_success 'do not dereference NULL upon %(HEAD) on unborn branch' '
+	test_when_finished "git checkout master" &&
+	git for-each-ref --format="%(HEAD) %(refname:short)" refs/heads/ >actual &&
+	sed -e "s/^\* /  /" actual >expect &&
+	git checkout --orphan HEAD &&
+	git for-each-ref --format="%(HEAD) %(refname:short)" refs/heads/ >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done