diff --git a/Documentation/config.txt b/Documentation/config.txt
index 6ba50b1104a..d08e83a1482 100644
--- a/Documentation/config.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config.txt
@@ -398,6 +398,8 @@ include::config/interactive.txt[]
 
 include::config/log.txt[]
 
+include::config/lsrefs.txt[]
+
 include::config/mailinfo.txt[]
 
 include::config/mailmap.txt[]
diff --git a/Documentation/config/init.txt b/Documentation/config/init.txt
index dc77f8c8446..79c79d66174 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/init.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config/init.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ init.templateDir::
 
 init.defaultBranch::
 	Allows overriding the default branch name e.g. when initializing
-	a new repository or when cloning an empty repository.
+	a new repository.
diff --git a/Documentation/config/lsrefs.txt b/Documentation/config/lsrefs.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..adeda0f24d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/config/lsrefs.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+lsrefs.unborn::
+	May be "advertise" (the default), "allow", or "ignore". If "advertise",
+	the server will respond to the client sending "unborn" (as described in
+	protocol-v2.txt) and will advertise support for this feature during the
+	protocol v2 capability advertisement. "allow" is the same as
+	"advertise" except that the server will not advertise support for this
+	feature; this is useful for load-balanced servers that cannot be
+	updated atomically (for example), since the administrator could
+	configure "allow", then after a delay, configure "advertise".
diff --git a/Documentation/technical/protocol-v2.txt b/Documentation/technical/protocol-v2.txt
index 85daeb5d9e7..f772d90eaf9 100644
--- a/Documentation/technical/protocol-v2.txt
+++ b/Documentation/technical/protocol-v2.txt
@@ -192,11 +192,20 @@ ls-refs takes in the following arguments:
 	When specified, only references having a prefix matching one of
 	the provided prefixes are displayed.
 
+If the 'unborn' feature is advertised the following argument can be
+included in the client's request.
+
+    unborn
+	The server will send information about HEAD even if it is a symref
+	pointing to an unborn branch in the form "unborn HEAD
+	symref-target:<target>".
+
 The output of ls-refs is as follows:
 
     output = *ref
 	     flush-pkt
-    ref = PKT-LINE(obj-id SP refname *(SP ref-attribute) LF)
+    obj-id-or-unborn = (obj-id | "unborn")
+    ref = PKT-LINE(obj-id-or-unborn SP refname *(SP ref-attribute) LF)
     ref-attribute = (symref | peeled)
     symref = "symref-target:" symref-target
     peeled = "peeled:" obj-id
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index e335734b4cf..51e844a2de0 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -979,7 +979,8 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int err = 0, complete_refs_before_fetch = 1;
 	int submodule_progress;
 
-	struct strvec ref_prefixes = STRVEC_INIT;
+	struct transport_ls_refs_options transport_ls_refs_options =
+		TRANSPORT_LS_REFS_OPTIONS_INIT;
 
 	packet_trace_identity("clone");
 
@@ -1257,14 +1258,17 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		transport->smart_options->check_self_contained_and_connected = 1;
 
 
-	strvec_push(&ref_prefixes, "HEAD");
-	refspec_ref_prefixes(&remote->fetch, &ref_prefixes);
+	strvec_push(&transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes, "HEAD");
+	refspec_ref_prefixes(&remote->fetch,
+			     &transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes);
 	if (option_branch)
-		expand_ref_prefix(&ref_prefixes, option_branch);
+		expand_ref_prefix(&transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes,
+				  option_branch);
 	if (!option_no_tags)
-		strvec_push(&ref_prefixes, "refs/tags/");
+		strvec_push(&transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes,
+			    "refs/tags/");
 
-	refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, &ref_prefixes);
+	refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, &transport_ls_refs_options);
 
 	if (refs) {
 		int hash_algo = hash_algo_by_ptr(transport_get_hash_algo(transport));
@@ -1326,8 +1330,19 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		remote_head = NULL;
 		option_no_checkout = 1;
 		if (!option_bare) {
-			const char *branch = git_default_branch_name(0);
-			char *ref = xstrfmt("refs/heads/%s", branch);
+			const char *branch;
+			char *ref;
+
+			if (transport_ls_refs_options.unborn_head_target &&
+			    skip_prefix(transport_ls_refs_options.unborn_head_target,
+					"refs/heads/", &branch)) {
+				ref = transport_ls_refs_options.unborn_head_target;
+				transport_ls_refs_options.unborn_head_target = NULL;
+				create_symref("HEAD", ref, reflog_msg.buf);
+			} else {
+				branch = git_default_branch_name(0);
+				ref = xstrfmt("refs/heads/%s", branch);
+			}
 
 			install_branch_config(0, branch, remote_name, ref);
 			free(ref);
@@ -1380,6 +1395,7 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	strbuf_release(&key);
 	junk_mode = JUNK_LEAVE_ALL;
 
-	strvec_clear(&ref_prefixes);
+	strvec_clear(&transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes);
+	free(transport_ls_refs_options.unborn_head_target);
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/builtin/fetch-pack.c b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
index 58b7c1fbdc4..c2d96f4c89a 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ int cmd_fetch_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	version = discover_version(&reader);
 	switch (version) {
 	case protocol_v2:
-		get_remote_refs(fd[1], &reader, &ref, 0, NULL, NULL, args.stateless_rpc);
+		get_remote_refs(fd[1], &reader, &ref, 0, NULL, NULL,
+				args.stateless_rpc);
 		break;
 	case protocol_v1:
 	case protocol_v0:
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 91f3d20696d..0b90de87c7a 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -1455,7 +1455,8 @@ static int do_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 	int autotags = (transport->remote->fetch_tags == 1);
 	int retcode = 0;
 	const struct ref *remote_refs;
-	struct strvec ref_prefixes = STRVEC_INIT;
+	struct transport_ls_refs_options transport_ls_refs_options =
+		TRANSPORT_LS_REFS_OPTIONS_INIT;
 	int must_list_refs = 1;
 
 	if (tags == TAGS_DEFAULT) {
@@ -1475,7 +1476,7 @@ static int do_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 	if (rs->nr) {
 		int i;
 
-		refspec_ref_prefixes(rs, &ref_prefixes);
+		refspec_ref_prefixes(rs, &transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes);
 
 		/*
 		 * We can avoid listing refs if all of them are exact
@@ -1489,22 +1490,25 @@ static int do_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 			}
 		}
 	} else if (transport->remote && transport->remote->fetch.nr)
-		refspec_ref_prefixes(&transport->remote->fetch, &ref_prefixes);
+		refspec_ref_prefixes(&transport->remote->fetch,
+				     &transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes);
 
 	if (tags == TAGS_SET || tags == TAGS_DEFAULT) {
 		must_list_refs = 1;
-		if (ref_prefixes.nr)
-			strvec_push(&ref_prefixes, "refs/tags/");
+		if (transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes.nr)
+			strvec_push(&transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes,
+				    "refs/tags/");
 	}
 
 	if (must_list_refs) {
 		trace2_region_enter("fetch", "remote_refs", the_repository);
-		remote_refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, &ref_prefixes);
+		remote_refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport,
+							&transport_ls_refs_options);
 		trace2_region_leave("fetch", "remote_refs", the_repository);
 	} else
 		remote_refs = NULL;
 
-	strvec_clear(&ref_prefixes);
+	strvec_clear(&transport_ls_refs_options.ref_prefixes);
 
 	ref_map = get_ref_map(transport->remote, remote_refs, rs,
 			      tags, &autotags);
diff --git a/builtin/ls-remote.c b/builtin/ls-remote.c
index 092917eca29..ef604752a04 100644
--- a/builtin/ls-remote.c
+++ b/builtin/ls-remote.c
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int show_symref_target = 0;
 	const char *uploadpack = NULL;
 	const char **pattern = NULL;
-	struct strvec ref_prefixes = STRVEC_INIT;
+	struct transport_ls_refs_options transport_options =
+		TRANSPORT_LS_REFS_OPTIONS_INIT;
 	int i;
 	struct string_list server_options = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 
@@ -94,9 +95,9 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	}
 
 	if (flags & REF_TAGS)
-		strvec_push(&ref_prefixes, "refs/tags/");
+		strvec_push(&transport_options.ref_prefixes, "refs/tags/");
 	if (flags & REF_HEADS)
-		strvec_push(&ref_prefixes, "refs/heads/");
+		strvec_push(&transport_options.ref_prefixes, "refs/heads/");
 
 	remote = remote_get(dest);
 	if (!remote) {
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (server_options.nr)
 		transport->server_options = &server_options;
 
-	ref = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, &ref_prefixes);
+	ref = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, &transport_options);
 	if (ref) {
 		int hash_algo = hash_algo_by_ptr(transport_get_hash_algo(transport));
 		repo_set_hash_algo(the_repository, hash_algo);
diff --git a/connect.c b/connect.c
index 9c97fee4303..40b5c15f811 100644
--- a/connect.c
+++ b/connect.c
@@ -376,7 +376,8 @@ struct ref **get_remote_heads(struct packet_reader *reader,
 }
 
 /* Returns 1 when a valid ref has been added to `list`, 0 otherwise */
-static int process_ref_v2(struct packet_reader *reader, struct ref ***list)
+static int process_ref_v2(struct packet_reader *reader, struct ref ***list,
+			  char **unborn_head_target)
 {
 	int ret = 1;
 	int i = 0;
@@ -397,6 +398,25 @@ static int process_ref_v2(struct packet_reader *reader, struct ref ***list)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	if (!strcmp("unborn", line_sections.items[i].string)) {
+		i++;
+		if (unborn_head_target &&
+		    !strcmp("HEAD", line_sections.items[i++].string)) {
+			/*
+			 * Look for the symref target (if any). If found,
+			 * return it to the caller.
+			 */
+			for (; i < line_sections.nr; i++) {
+				const char *arg = line_sections.items[i].string;
+
+				if (skip_prefix(arg, "symref-target:", &arg)) {
+					*unborn_head_target = xstrdup(arg);
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		goto out;
+	}
 	if (parse_oid_hex_algop(line_sections.items[i++].string, &old_oid, &end, reader->hash_algo) ||
 	    *end) {
 		ret = 0;
@@ -453,12 +473,16 @@ void check_stateless_delimiter(int stateless_rpc,
 
 struct ref **get_remote_refs(int fd_out, struct packet_reader *reader,
 			     struct ref **list, int for_push,
-			     const struct strvec *ref_prefixes,
+			     struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options,
 			     const struct string_list *server_options,
 			     int stateless_rpc)
 {
 	int i;
 	const char *hash_name;
+	struct strvec *ref_prefixes = transport_options ?
+		&transport_options->ref_prefixes : NULL;
+	char **unborn_head_target = transport_options ?
+		&transport_options->unborn_head_target : NULL;
 	*list = NULL;
 
 	if (server_supports_v2("ls-refs", 1))
@@ -488,6 +512,8 @@ struct ref **get_remote_refs(int fd_out, struct packet_reader *reader,
 	if (!for_push)
 		packet_write_fmt(fd_out, "peel\n");
 	packet_write_fmt(fd_out, "symrefs\n");
+	if (server_supports_feature("ls-refs", "unborn", 0))
+		packet_write_fmt(fd_out, "unborn\n");
 	for (i = 0; ref_prefixes && i < ref_prefixes->nr; i++) {
 		packet_write_fmt(fd_out, "ref-prefix %s\n",
 				 ref_prefixes->v[i]);
@@ -496,7 +522,7 @@ struct ref **get_remote_refs(int fd_out, struct packet_reader *reader,
 
 	/* Process response from server */
 	while (packet_reader_read(reader) == PACKET_READ_NORMAL) {
-		if (!process_ref_v2(reader, &list))
+		if (!process_ref_v2(reader, &list, unborn_head_target))
 			die(_("invalid ls-refs response: %s"), reader->line);
 	}
 
diff --git a/ls-refs.c b/ls-refs.c
index 5ff5473869f..88f6c3f60d8 100644
--- a/ls-refs.c
+++ b/ls-refs.c
@@ -7,6 +7,39 @@
 #include "pkt-line.h"
 #include "config.h"
 
+static int config_read;
+static int advertise_unborn;
+static int allow_unborn;
+
+static void ensure_config_read(void)
+{
+	const char *str = NULL;
+
+	if (config_read)
+		return;
+
+	if (repo_config_get_string_tmp(the_repository, "lsrefs.unborn", &str)) {
+		/*
+		 * If there is no such config, advertise and allow it by
+		 * default.
+		 */
+		advertise_unborn = 1;
+		allow_unborn = 1;
+	} else {
+		if (!strcmp(str, "advertise")) {
+			advertise_unborn = 1;
+			allow_unborn = 1;
+		} else if (!strcmp(str, "allow")) {
+			allow_unborn = 1;
+		} else if (!strcmp(str, "ignore")) {
+			/* do nothing */
+		} else {
+			die(_("invalid value '%s' for lsrefs.unborn"), str);
+		}
+	}
+	config_read = 1;
+}
+
 /*
  * Check if one of the prefixes is a prefix of the ref.
  * If no prefixes were provided, all refs match.
@@ -32,6 +65,7 @@ struct ls_refs_data {
 	unsigned peel;
 	unsigned symrefs;
 	struct strvec prefixes;
+	unsigned unborn : 1;
 };
 
 static int send_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
@@ -47,7 +81,10 @@ static int send_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 	if (!ref_match(&data->prefixes, refname_nons))
 		return 0;
 
-	strbuf_addf(&refline, "%s %s", oid_to_hex(oid), refname_nons);
+	if (oid)
+		strbuf_addf(&refline, "%s %s", oid_to_hex(oid), refname_nons);
+	else
+		strbuf_addf(&refline, "unborn %s", refname_nons);
 	if (data->symrefs && flag & REF_ISSYMREF) {
 		struct object_id unused;
 		const char *symref_target = resolve_ref_unsafe(refname, 0,
@@ -61,7 +98,7 @@ static int send_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 			    strip_namespace(symref_target));
 	}
 
-	if (data->peel) {
+	if (data->peel && oid) {
 		struct object_id peeled;
 		if (!peel_iterated_oid(oid, &peeled))
 			strbuf_addf(&refline, " peeled:%s", oid_to_hex(&peeled));
@@ -74,6 +111,23 @@ static int send_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static void send_possibly_unborn_head(struct ls_refs_data *data)
+{
+	struct strbuf namespaced = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct object_id oid;
+	int flag;
+	int oid_is_null;
+
+	strbuf_addf(&namespaced, "%sHEAD", get_git_namespace());
+	if (!resolve_ref_unsafe(namespaced.buf, 0, &oid, &flag))
+		return; /* bad ref */
+	oid_is_null = is_null_oid(&oid);
+	if (!oid_is_null ||
+	    (data->unborn && data->symrefs && (flag & REF_ISSYMREF)))
+		send_ref(namespaced.buf, oid_is_null ? NULL : &oid, flag, data);
+	strbuf_release(&namespaced);
+}
+
 static int ls_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *data)
 {
 	/*
@@ -92,6 +146,7 @@ int ls_refs(struct repository *r, struct strvec *keys,
 	memset(&data, 0, sizeof(data));
 	strvec_init(&data.prefixes);
 
+	ensure_config_read();
 	git_config(ls_refs_config, NULL);
 
 	while (packet_reader_read(request) == PACKET_READ_NORMAL) {
@@ -104,12 +159,14 @@ int ls_refs(struct repository *r, struct strvec *keys,
 			data.symrefs = 1;
 		else if (skip_prefix(arg, "ref-prefix ", &out))
 			strvec_push(&data.prefixes, out);
+		else if (!strcmp("unborn", arg))
+			data.unborn = allow_unborn;
 	}
 
 	if (request->status != PACKET_READ_FLUSH)
 		die(_("expected flush after ls-refs arguments"));
 
-	head_ref_namespaced(send_ref, &data);
+	send_possibly_unborn_head(&data);
 	if (!data.prefixes.nr)
 		strvec_push(&data.prefixes, "");
 	for_each_fullref_in_prefixes(get_git_namespace(), data.prefixes.v,
@@ -118,3 +175,14 @@ int ls_refs(struct repository *r, struct strvec *keys,
 	strvec_clear(&data.prefixes);
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int ls_refs_advertise(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *value)
+{
+	if (value) {
+		ensure_config_read();
+		if (advertise_unborn)
+			strbuf_addstr(value, "unborn");
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
diff --git a/ls-refs.h b/ls-refs.h
index 7b33a7c6b81..a99e4be0bdd 100644
--- a/ls-refs.h
+++ b/ls-refs.h
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@ struct strvec;
 struct packet_reader;
 int ls_refs(struct repository *r, struct strvec *keys,
 	    struct packet_reader *request);
+int ls_refs_advertise(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *value);
 
 #endif /* LS_REFS_H */
diff --git a/remote.h b/remote.h
index aad1a0f0808..5a591982528 100644
--- a/remote.h
+++ b/remote.h
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 #include "hashmap.h"
 #include "refspec.h"
 
+struct transport_ls_refs_options;
+
 /**
  * The API gives access to the configuration related to remotes. It handles
  * all three configuration mechanisms historically and currently used by Git,
@@ -196,7 +198,7 @@ struct ref **get_remote_heads(struct packet_reader *reader,
 /* Used for protocol v2 in order to retrieve refs from a remote */
 struct ref **get_remote_refs(int fd_out, struct packet_reader *reader,
 			     struct ref **list, int for_push,
-			     const struct strvec *ref_prefixes,
+			     struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options,
 			     const struct string_list *server_options,
 			     int stateless_rpc);
 
diff --git a/serve.c b/serve.c
index eec2fe6f294..ac20c727630 100644
--- a/serve.c
+++ b/serve.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ struct protocol_capability {
 
 static struct protocol_capability capabilities[] = {
 	{ "agent", agent_advertise, NULL },
-	{ "ls-refs", always_advertise, ls_refs },
+	{ "ls-refs", ls_refs_advertise, ls_refs },
 	{ "fetch", upload_pack_advertise, upload_pack_v2 },
 	{ "server-option", always_advertise, NULL },
 	{ "object-format", object_format_advertise, NULL },
diff --git a/t/t5606-clone-options.sh b/t/t5606-clone-options.sh
index 5d6e63a841f..52e5789fb05 100755
--- a/t/t5606-clone-options.sh
+++ b/t/t5606-clone-options.sh
@@ -105,11 +105,13 @@ test_expect_success 'redirected clone -v does show progress' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'chooses correct default initial branch name' '
-	git init --bare empty &&
+	GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME= \
+	git -c init.defaultBranch=foo init --bare empty &&
+	test_config -C empty lsrefs.unborn advertise &&
 	GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME= \
 	git -c init.defaultBranch=up clone empty whats-up &&
-	test refs/heads/up = $(git -C whats-up symbolic-ref HEAD) &&
-	test refs/heads/up = $(git -C whats-up config branch.up.merge)
+	test refs/heads/foo = $(git -C whats-up symbolic-ref HEAD) &&
+	test refs/heads/foo = $(git -C whats-up config branch.foo.merge)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'guesses initial branch name correctly' '
diff --git a/t/t5701-git-serve.sh b/t/t5701-git-serve.sh
index d9143b4bd2d..509f379d492 100755
--- a/t/t5701-git-serve.sh
+++ b/t/t5701-git-serve.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test_expect_success 'test capability advertisement' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	version 2
 	agent=git/$(git version | cut -d" " -f3)
-	ls-refs
+	ls-refs=unborn
 	fetch=shallow
 	server-option
 	object-format=$(test_oid algo)
diff --git a/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh b/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh
index e8f0b4a299e..9113d209c51 100755
--- a/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh
+++ b/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh
@@ -212,6 +212,31 @@ test_expect_success 'clone with file:// using protocol v2' '
 	grep "ref-prefix refs/tags/" log
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'clone of empty repo propagates name of default branch' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf file_empty_parent file_empty_child" &&
+
+	GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME= \
+	git -c init.defaultBranch=mydefaultbranch init file_empty_parent &&
+
+	GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME= \
+	git -c init.defaultBranch=main -c protocol.version=2 \
+		clone "file://$(pwd)/file_empty_parent" file_empty_child &&
+	grep "refs/heads/mydefaultbranch" file_empty_child/.git/HEAD
+'
+
+test_expect_success '...but not if explicitly forbidden by config' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf file_empty_parent file_empty_child" &&
+
+	GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME= \
+	git -c init.defaultBranch=mydefaultbranch init file_empty_parent &&
+	test_config -C file_empty_parent lsrefs.unborn ignore &&
+
+	GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME= \
+	git -c init.defaultBranch=main -c protocol.version=2 \
+		clone "file://$(pwd)/file_empty_parent" file_empty_child &&
+	! grep "refs/heads/mydefaultbranch" file_empty_child/.git/HEAD
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'fetch with file:// using protocol v2' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -f log" &&
 
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 5f6e0b3bd87..49b7fb4dcb9 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -1162,13 +1162,14 @@ static int has_attribute(const char *attrs, const char *attr)
 }
 
 static struct ref *get_refs_list(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
-				 const struct strvec *ref_prefixes)
+				 struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options)
 {
 	get_helper(transport);
 
 	if (process_connect(transport, for_push)) {
 		do_take_over(transport);
-		return transport->vtable->get_refs_list(transport, for_push, ref_prefixes);
+		return transport->vtable->get_refs_list(transport, for_push,
+							transport_options);
 	}
 
 	return get_refs_list_using_list(transport, for_push);
diff --git a/transport-internal.h b/transport-internal.h
index 27c9daffc47..b60f1ba9077 100644
--- a/transport-internal.h
+++ b/transport-internal.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 struct ref;
 struct transport;
 struct strvec;
+struct transport_ls_refs_options;
 
 struct transport_vtable {
 	/**
@@ -18,19 +19,12 @@ struct transport_vtable {
 	 * the transport to try to share connections, for_push is a
 	 * hint as to whether the ultimate operation is a push or a fetch.
 	 *
-	 * If communicating using protocol v2 a list of prefixes can be
-	 * provided to be sent to the server to enable it to limit the ref
-	 * advertisement.  Since ref filtering is done on the server's end, and
-	 * only when using protocol v2, this list will be ignored when not
-	 * using protocol v2 meaning this function can return refs which don't
-	 * match the provided ref_prefixes.
-	 *
 	 * If the transport is able to determine the remote hash for
 	 * the ref without a huge amount of effort, it should store it
 	 * in the ref's old_sha1 field; otherwise it should be all 0.
 	 **/
 	struct ref *(*get_refs_list)(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
-				     const struct strvec *ref_prefixes);
+				     struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options);
 
 	/**
 	 * Fetch the objects for the given refs. Note that this gets
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 679a35e7c1b..b13fab5dc3b 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ struct bundle_transport_data {
 
 static struct ref *get_refs_from_bundle(struct transport *transport,
 					int for_push,
-					const struct strvec *ref_prefixes)
+					struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options)
 {
 	struct bundle_transport_data *data = transport->data;
 	struct ref *result = NULL;
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ static void die_if_server_options(struct transport *transport)
  * remote refs.
  */
 static struct ref *handshake(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
-			     const struct strvec *ref_prefixes,
+			     struct transport_ls_refs_options *options,
 			     int must_list_refs)
 {
 	struct git_transport_data *data = transport->data;
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ static struct ref *handshake(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
 			trace2_data_string("transfer", NULL, "server-sid", server_sid);
 		if (must_list_refs)
 			get_remote_refs(data->fd[1], &reader, &refs, for_push,
-					ref_prefixes,
+					options,
 					transport->server_options,
 					transport->stateless_rpc);
 		break;
@@ -334,9 +334,9 @@ static struct ref *handshake(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
 }
 
 static struct ref *get_refs_via_connect(struct transport *transport, int for_push,
-					const struct strvec *ref_prefixes)
+					struct transport_ls_refs_options *options)
 {
-	return handshake(transport, for_push, ref_prefixes, 1);
+	return handshake(transport, for_push, options, 1);
 }
 
 static int fetch_refs_via_pack(struct transport *transport,
@@ -1252,19 +1252,20 @@ int transport_push(struct repository *r,
 		int porcelain = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_PORCELAIN;
 		int pretend = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_DRY_RUN;
 		int push_ret, ret, err;
-		struct strvec ref_prefixes = STRVEC_INIT;
+		struct transport_ls_refs_options transport_options =
+			TRANSPORT_LS_REFS_OPTIONS_INIT;
 
 		if (check_push_refs(local_refs, rs) < 0)
 			return -1;
 
-		refspec_ref_prefixes(rs, &ref_prefixes);
+		refspec_ref_prefixes(rs, &transport_options.ref_prefixes);
 
 		trace2_region_enter("transport_push", "get_refs_list", r);
 		remote_refs = transport->vtable->get_refs_list(transport, 1,
-							       &ref_prefixes);
+							       &transport_options);
 		trace2_region_leave("transport_push", "get_refs_list", r);
 
-		strvec_clear(&ref_prefixes);
+		strvec_clear(&transport_options.ref_prefixes);
 
 		if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL)
 			match_flags |= MATCH_REFS_ALL;
@@ -1380,12 +1381,12 @@ int transport_push(struct repository *r,
 }
 
 const struct ref *transport_get_remote_refs(struct transport *transport,
-					    const struct strvec *ref_prefixes)
+					    struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options)
 {
 	if (!transport->got_remote_refs) {
 		transport->remote_refs =
 			transport->vtable->get_refs_list(transport, 0,
-							 ref_prefixes);
+							 transport_options);
 		transport->got_remote_refs = 1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/transport.h b/transport.h
index 24558c027d6..24e15799e71 100644
--- a/transport.h
+++ b/transport.h
@@ -233,17 +233,32 @@ int transport_push(struct repository *repo,
 		   struct refspec *rs, int flags,
 		   unsigned int * reject_reasons);
 
+struct transport_ls_refs_options {
+	/*
+	 * Optionally, a list of ref prefixes can be provided which can be sent
+	 * to the server (when communicating using protocol v2) to enable it to
+	 * limit the ref advertisement.  Since ref filtering is done on the
+	 * server's end (and only when using protocol v2),
+	 * transport_get_remote_refs() could return refs which don't match the
+	 * provided ref_prefixes.
+	 */
+	struct strvec ref_prefixes;
+
+	/*
+	 * If unborn_head_target is not NULL, and the remote reports HEAD as
+	 * pointing to an unborn branch, transport_get_remote_refs() stores the
+	 * unborn branch in unborn_head_target. It should be freed by the
+	 * caller.
+	 */
+	char *unborn_head_target;
+};
+#define TRANSPORT_LS_REFS_OPTIONS_INIT { STRVEC_INIT }
+
 /*
  * Retrieve refs from a remote.
- *
- * Optionally a list of ref prefixes can be provided which can be sent to the
- * server (when communicating using protocol v2) to enable it to limit the ref
- * advertisement.  Since ref filtering is done on the server's end (and only
- * when using protocol v2), this can return refs which don't match the provided
- * ref_prefixes.
  */
 const struct ref *transport_get_remote_refs(struct transport *transport,
-					    const struct strvec *ref_prefixes);
+					    struct transport_ls_refs_options *transport_options);
 
 /*
  * Fetch the hash algorithm used by a remote.