diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index dc0bde05b8..ffc30fd232 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -1526,6 +1526,233 @@ static void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 	free(lock);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Lock refname, without following symrefs, and set *lock_p to point
+ * at a newly-allocated lock object. Fill in lock->old_oid, referent,
+ * and type similarly to read_raw_ref().
+ *
+ * The caller must verify that refname is a "safe" reference name (in
+ * the sense of refname_is_safe()) before calling this function.
+ *
+ * If the reference doesn't already exist, verify that refname doesn't
+ * have a D/F conflict with any existing references. extras and skip
+ * are passed to verify_refname_available_dir() for this check.
+ *
+ * If mustexist is not set and the reference is not found or is
+ * broken, lock the reference anyway but clear sha1.
+ *
+ * Return 0 on success. On failure, write an error message to err and
+ * return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT or TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR.
+ *
+ * Implementation note: This function is basically
+ *
+ *     lock reference
+ *     read_raw_ref()
+ *
+ * but it includes a lot more code to
+ * - Deal with possible races with other processes
+ * - Avoid calling verify_refname_available_dir() when it can be
+ *   avoided, namely if we were successfully able to read the ref
+ * - Generate informative error messages in the case of failure
+ */
+static int lock_raw_ref(const char *refname, int mustexist,
+			const struct string_list *extras,
+			const struct string_list *skip,
+			struct ref_lock **lock_p,
+			struct strbuf *referent,
+			unsigned int *type,
+			struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct ref_lock *lock;
+	struct strbuf ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int attempts_remaining = 3;
+	int ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+
+	assert(err);
+	*type = 0;
+
+	/* First lock the file so it can't change out from under us. */
+
+	*lock_p = lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*lock));
+
+	lock->ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
+	lock->orig_ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
+	strbuf_git_path(&ref_file, "%s", refname);
+
+retry:
+	switch (safe_create_leading_directories(ref_file.buf)) {
+	case SCLD_OK:
+		break; /* success */
+	case SCLD_EXISTS:
+		/*
+		 * Suppose refname is "refs/foo/bar". We just failed
+		 * to create the containing directory, "refs/foo",
+		 * because there was a non-directory in the way. This
+		 * indicates a D/F conflict, probably because of
+		 * another reference such as "refs/foo". There is no
+		 * reason to expect this error to be transitory.
+		 */
+		if (verify_refname_available(refname, extras, skip, err)) {
+			if (mustexist) {
+				/*
+				 * To the user the relevant error is
+				 * that the "mustexist" reference is
+				 * missing:
+				 */
+				strbuf_reset(err);
+				strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
+					    refname);
+			} else {
+				/*
+				 * The error message set by
+				 * verify_refname_available_dir() is OK.
+				 */
+				ret = TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+			}
+		} else {
+			/*
+			 * The file that is in the way isn't a loose
+			 * reference. Report it as a low-level
+			 * failure.
+			 */
+			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create lock file %s.lock; "
+				    "non-directory in the way",
+				    ref_file.buf);
+		}
+		goto error_return;
+	case SCLD_VANISHED:
+		/* Maybe another process was tidying up. Try again. */
+		if (--attempts_remaining > 0)
+			goto retry;
+		/* fall through */
+	default:
+		strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for %s",
+			    ref_file.buf);
+		goto error_return;
+	}
+
+	if (!lock->lk)
+		lock->lk = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
+
+	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
+		if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0) {
+			/*
+			 * Maybe somebody just deleted one of the
+			 * directories leading to ref_file.  Try
+			 * again:
+			 */
+			goto retry;
+		} else {
+			unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
+			goto error_return;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Now we hold the lock and can read the reference without
+	 * fear that its value will change.
+	 */
+
+	if (read_raw_ref(refname, lock->old_oid.hash, referent, type)) {
+		if (errno == ENOENT) {
+			if (mustexist) {
+				/* Garden variety missing reference. */
+				strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
+					    refname);
+				goto error_return;
+			} else {
+				/*
+				 * Reference is missing, but that's OK. We
+				 * know that there is not a conflict with
+				 * another loose reference because
+				 * (supposing that we are trying to lock
+				 * reference "refs/foo/bar"):
+				 *
+				 * - We were successfully able to create
+				 *   the lockfile refs/foo/bar.lock, so we
+				 *   know there cannot be a loose reference
+				 *   named "refs/foo".
+				 *
+				 * - We got ENOENT and not EISDIR, so we
+				 *   know that there cannot be a loose
+				 *   reference named "refs/foo/bar/baz".
+				 */
+			}
+		} else if (errno == EISDIR) {
+			/*
+			 * There is a directory in the way. It might have
+			 * contained references that have been deleted. If
+			 * we don't require that the reference already
+			 * exists, try to remove the directory so that it
+			 * doesn't cause trouble when we want to rename the
+			 * lockfile into place later.
+			 */
+			if (mustexist) {
+				/* Garden variety missing reference. */
+				strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
+					    refname);
+				goto error_return;
+			} else if (remove_dir_recursively(&ref_file,
+							  REMOVE_DIR_EMPTY_ONLY)) {
+				if (verify_refname_available_dir(
+						    refname, extras, skip,
+						    get_loose_refs(&ref_cache),
+						    err)) {
+					/*
+					 * The error message set by
+					 * verify_refname_available() is OK.
+					 */
+					ret = TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+					goto error_return;
+				} else {
+					/*
+					 * We can't delete the directory,
+					 * but we also don't know of any
+					 * references that it should
+					 * contain.
+					 */
+					strbuf_addf(err, "there is a non-empty directory '%s' "
+						    "blocking reference '%s'",
+						    ref_file.buf, refname);
+					goto error_return;
+				}
+			}
+		} else if (errno == EINVAL && (*type & REF_ISBROKEN)) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': "
+				    "reference broken", refname);
+			goto error_return;
+		} else {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': %s",
+				    refname, strerror(errno));
+			goto error_return;
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * If the ref did not exist and we are creating it,
+		 * make sure there is no existing packed ref whose
+		 * name begins with our refname, nor a packed ref
+		 * whose name is a proper prefix of our refname.
+		 */
+		if (verify_refname_available_dir(
+				    refname, extras, skip,
+				    get_packed_refs(&ref_cache),
+				    err)) {
+			goto error_return;
+		}
+	}
+
+	ret = 0;
+	goto out;
+
+error_return:
+	unlock_ref(lock);
+	*lock_p = NULL;
+
+out:
+	strbuf_release(&ref_file);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 /*
  * Peel the entry (if possible) and return its new peel_status.  If
  * repeel is true, re-peel the entry even if there is an old peeled
@@ -3052,55 +3279,202 @@ static int ref_update_reject_duplicates(struct string_list *refnames,
 }
 
 /*
- * Acquire all locks, verify old values if provided, check
- * that new values are valid, and write new values to the
- * lockfiles, ready to be activated. Only keep one lockfile
- * open at a time to avoid running out of file descriptors.
+ * If update is a direct update of head_ref (the reference pointed to
+ * by HEAD), then add an extra REF_LOG_ONLY update for HEAD.
  */
-static int lock_ref_for_update(struct ref_update *update,
+static int split_head_update(struct ref_update *update,
+			     struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			     const char *head_ref,
+			     struct string_list *affected_refnames,
+			     struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct string_list_item *item;
+	struct ref_update *new_update;
+
+	if ((update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY) ||
+	    (update->flags & REF_ISPRUNING) ||
+	    (update->flags & REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (strcmp(update->refname, head_ref))
+		return 0;
+
+	/*
+	 * First make sure that HEAD is not already in the
+	 * transaction. This insertion is O(N) in the transaction
+	 * size, but it happens at most once per transaction.
+	 */
+	item = string_list_insert(affected_refnames, "HEAD");
+	if (item->util) {
+		/* An entry already existed */
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "multiple updates for 'HEAD' (including one "
+			    "via its referent '%s') are not allowed",
+			    update->refname);
+		return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+	}
+
+	new_update = ref_transaction_add_update(
+			transaction, "HEAD",
+			update->flags | REF_LOG_ONLY | REF_NODEREF,
+			update->new_sha1, update->old_sha1,
+			update->msg);
+
+	item->util = new_update;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * update is for a symref that points at referent and doesn't have
+ * REF_NODEREF set. Split it into two updates:
+ * - The original update, but with REF_LOG_ONLY and REF_NODEREF set
+ * - A new, separate update for the referent reference
+ * Note that the new update will itself be subject to splitting when
+ * the iteration gets to it.
+ */
+static int split_symref_update(struct ref_update *update,
+			       const char *referent,
 			       struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 			       struct string_list *affected_refnames,
 			       struct strbuf *err)
 {
-	int ret;
+	struct string_list_item *item;
+	struct ref_update *new_update;
+	unsigned int new_flags;
 
-	if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
-	    is_null_sha1(update->new_sha1))
+	/*
+	 * First make sure that referent is not already in the
+	 * transaction. This insertion is O(N) in the transaction
+	 * size, but it happens at most once per symref in a
+	 * transaction.
+	 */
+	item = string_list_insert(affected_refnames, referent);
+	if (item->util) {
+		/* An entry already existed */
+		strbuf_addf(err,
+			    "multiple updates for '%s' (including one "
+			    "via symref '%s') are not allowed",
+			    referent, update->refname);
+		return TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT;
+	}
+
+	new_flags = update->flags;
+	if (!strcmp(update->refname, "HEAD")) {
+		/*
+		 * Record that the new update came via HEAD, so that
+		 * when we process it, split_head_update() doesn't try
+		 * to add another reflog update for HEAD. Note that
+		 * this bit will be propagated if the new_update
+		 * itself needs to be split.
+		 */
+		new_flags |= REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD;
+	}
+
+	new_update = ref_transaction_add_update(
+			transaction, referent, new_flags,
+			update->new_sha1, update->old_sha1,
+			update->msg);
+
+	/* Change the symbolic ref update to log only: */
+	update->flags |= REF_LOG_ONLY | REF_NODEREF;
+
+	item->util = new_update;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Prepare for carrying out update:
+ * - Lock the reference referred to by update.
+ * - Read the reference under lock.
+ * - Check that its old SHA-1 value (if specified) is correct, and in
+ *   any case record it in update->lock->old_oid for later use when
+ *   writing the reflog.
+ * - If it is a symref update without REF_NODEREF, split it up into a
+ *   REF_LOG_ONLY update of the symref and add a separate update for
+ *   the referent to transaction.
+ * - If it is an update of head_ref, add a corresponding REF_LOG_ONLY
+ *   update of HEAD.
+ */
+static int lock_ref_for_update(struct ref_update *update,
+			       struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+			       const char *head_ref,
+			       struct string_list *affected_refnames,
+			       struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct strbuf referent = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int mustexist = (update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
+		!is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1);
+	int ret;
+	struct ref_lock *lock;
+
+	if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) && is_null_sha1(update->new_sha1))
 		update->flags |= REF_DELETING;
-	update->lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(
-			update->refname,
-			((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) ?
-			 update->old_sha1 : NULL),
-			affected_refnames, NULL,
-			update->flags,
-			&update->type,
-			err);
-	if (!update->lock) {
+
+	if (head_ref) {
+		ret = split_head_update(update, transaction, head_ref,
+					affected_refnames, err);
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+	}
+
+	ret = lock_raw_ref(update->refname, mustexist,
+			   affected_refnames, NULL,
+			   &update->lock, &referent,
+			   &update->type, err);
+
+	if (ret) {
 		char *reason;
 
-		ret = (errno == ENOTDIR)
-			? TRANSACTION_NAME_CONFLICT
-			: TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 		reason = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
 		strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': %s",
 			    update->refname, reason);
 		free(reason);
 		return ret;
 	}
+
+	lock = update->lock;
+
+	if (read_ref_full(update->refname,
+			  mustexist ? RESOLVE_REF_READING : 0,
+			  lock->old_oid.hash, NULL)) {
+		if (update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) {
+			strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': can't resolve old value",
+				    update->refname);
+			return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+		} else {
+			hashclr(lock->old_oid.hash);
+		}
+	}
+	if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
+	    hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->old_sha1)) {
+		strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': is at %s but expected %s",
+			    update->refname,
+			    sha1_to_hex(lock->old_oid.hash),
+			    sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+		return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	if (update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) {
+		if (!(update->flags & REF_NODEREF)) {
+			ret = split_symref_update(update, referent.buf, transaction,
+						  affected_refnames, err);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
 	    !(update->flags & REF_DELETING) &&
 	    !(update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY)) {
-		int overwriting_symref = ((update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
-					  (update->flags & REF_NODEREF));
-
-		if (!overwriting_symref &&
-		    !hashcmp(update->lock->old_oid.hash, update->new_sha1)) {
+		if (!(update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
+		    !hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->new_sha1)) {
 			/*
 			 * The reference already has the desired
 			 * value, so we don't need to write it.
 			 */
-		} else if (write_ref_to_lockfile(update->lock,
-						 update->new_sha1,
+		} else if (write_ref_to_lockfile(lock, update->new_sha1,
 						 err)) {
 			char *write_err = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
 
@@ -3124,7 +3498,7 @@ static int lock_ref_for_update(struct ref_update *update,
 		 * the lockfile is still open. Close it to
 		 * free up the file descriptor:
 		 */
-		if (close_ref(update->lock)) {
+		if (close_ref(lock)) {
 			strbuf_addf(err, "couldn't close '%s.lock'",
 				    update->refname);
 			return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
@@ -3140,6 +3514,9 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	struct string_list refs_to_delete = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 	struct string_list_item *ref_to_delete;
 	struct string_list affected_refnames = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
+	char *head_ref = NULL;
+	int head_type;
+	struct object_id head_oid;
 
 	assert(err);
 
@@ -3151,16 +3528,57 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	/* Fail if a refname appears more than once in the transaction: */
-	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++)
-		string_list_append(&affected_refnames,
-				   transaction->updates[i]->refname);
+	/*
+	 * Fail if a refname appears more than once in the
+	 * transaction. (If we end up splitting up any updates using
+	 * split_symref_update() or split_head_update(), those
+	 * functions will check that the new updates don't have the
+	 * same refname as any existing ones.)
+	 */
+	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+		struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
+		struct string_list_item *item =
+			string_list_append(&affected_refnames, update->refname);
+
+		/*
+		 * We store a pointer to update in item->util, but at
+		 * the moment we never use the value of this field
+		 * except to check whether it is non-NULL.
+		 */
+		item->util = update;
+	}
 	string_list_sort(&affected_refnames);
 	if (ref_update_reject_duplicates(&affected_refnames, err)) {
 		ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Special hack: If a branch is updated directly and HEAD
+	 * points to it (may happen on the remote side of a push
+	 * for example) then logically the HEAD reflog should be
+	 * updated too.
+	 *
+	 * A generic solution would require reverse symref lookups,
+	 * but finding all symrefs pointing to a given branch would be
+	 * rather costly for this rare event (the direct update of a
+	 * branch) to be worth it. So let's cheat and check with HEAD
+	 * only, which should cover 99% of all usage scenarios (even
+	 * 100% of the default ones).
+	 *
+	 * So if HEAD is a symbolic reference, then record the name of
+	 * the reference that it points to. If we see an update of
+	 * head_ref within the transaction, then split_head_update()
+	 * arranges for the reflog of HEAD to be updated, too.
+	 */
+	head_ref = resolve_refdup("HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE,
+				  head_oid.hash, &head_type);
+
+	if (head_ref && !(head_type & REF_ISSYMREF)) {
+		free(head_ref);
+		head_ref = NULL;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Acquire all locks, verify old values if provided, check
 	 * that new values are valid, and write new values to the
@@ -3170,7 +3588,7 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
 		struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
 
-		ret = lock_ref_for_update(update, transaction,
+		ret = lock_ref_for_update(update, transaction, head_ref,
 					  &affected_refnames, err);
 		if (ret)
 			goto cleanup;
@@ -3179,23 +3597,35 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	/* Perform updates first so live commits remain referenced */
 	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
 		struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
+		struct ref_lock *lock = update->lock;
 
 		if (update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT ||
 		    update->flags & REF_LOG_ONLY) {
-			if (commit_ref_update(update->lock,
-					      update->new_sha1, update->msg,
-					      update->flags, err)) {
-				/* freed by commit_ref_update(): */
+			if (log_ref_write(lock->ref_name, lock->old_oid.hash,
+					  update->new_sha1,
+					  update->msg, update->flags, err)) {
+				char *old_msg = strbuf_detach(err, NULL);
+
+				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot update the ref '%s': %s",
+					    lock->ref_name, old_msg);
+				free(old_msg);
+				unlock_ref(lock);
 				update->lock = NULL;
 				ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 				goto cleanup;
-			} else {
-				/* freed by commit_ref_update(): */
+			}
+		}
+		if (update->flags & REF_NEEDS_COMMIT) {
+			clear_loose_ref_cache(&ref_cache);
+			if (commit_ref(lock)) {
+				strbuf_addf(err, "couldn't set '%s'", lock->ref_name);
+				unlock_ref(lock);
 				update->lock = NULL;
+				ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+				goto cleanup;
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
 	/* Perform deletes now that updates are safely completed */
 	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
 		struct ref_update *update = transaction->updates[i];
@@ -3228,7 +3658,9 @@ cleanup:
 		if (transaction->updates[i]->lock)
 			unlock_ref(transaction->updates[i]->lock);
 	string_list_clear(&refs_to_delete, 0);
+	free(head_ref);
 	string_list_clear(&affected_refnames, 0);
+
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/refs/refs-internal.h b/refs/refs-internal.h
index babdf2769f..cccd76b28c 100644
--- a/refs/refs-internal.h
+++ b/refs/refs-internal.h
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@
  */
 #define REF_LOG_ONLY 0x80
 
+/*
+ * Internal flag, meaning that the containing ref_update was via an
+ * update to HEAD.
+ */
+#define REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD 0x100
+
 /*
  * Return true iff refname is minimally safe. "Safe" here means that
  * deleting a loose reference by this name will not do any damage, for
@@ -148,11 +154,12 @@ struct ref_update {
 	unsigned char old_sha1[20];
 	/*
 	 * One or more of REF_HAVE_NEW, REF_HAVE_OLD, REF_NODEREF,
-	 * REF_DELETING, and REF_ISPRUNING:
+	 * REF_DELETING, REF_ISPRUNING, REF_LOG_ONLY, and
+	 * REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD:
 	 */
 	unsigned int flags;
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
-	int type;
+	unsigned int type;
 	char *msg;
 	const char refname[FLEX_ARRAY];
 };
diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index 08bd8fd8d6..d226930412 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -1102,6 +1102,41 @@ test_expect_success 'stdin -z delete refs works with packed and loose refs' '
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify -q $c
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'fails with duplicate HEAD update' '
+	git branch target1 $A &&
+	git checkout target1 &&
+	cat >stdin <<-EOF &&
+	update refs/heads/target1 $C
+	option no-deref
+	update HEAD $B
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git update-ref --stdin <stdin 2>err &&
+	grep "fatal: multiple updates for '\''HEAD'\'' (including one via its referent .refs/heads/target1.) are not allowed" err &&
+	echo "refs/heads/target1" >expect &&
+	git symbolic-ref HEAD >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	echo "$A" >expect &&
+	git rev-parse refs/heads/target1 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'fails with duplicate ref update via symref' '
+	git branch target2 $A &&
+	git symbolic-ref refs/heads/symref2 refs/heads/target2 &&
+	cat >stdin <<-EOF &&
+	update refs/heads/target2 $C
+	update refs/heads/symref2 $B
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git update-ref --stdin <stdin 2>err &&
+	grep "fatal: multiple updates for '\''refs/heads/target2'\'' (including one via symref .refs/heads/symref2.) are not allowed" err &&
+	echo "refs/heads/target2" >expect &&
+	git symbolic-ref refs/heads/symref2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	echo "$A" >expect &&
+	git rev-parse refs/heads/target2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 run_with_limited_open_files () {
 	(ulimit -n 32 && "$@")
 }