diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 2d15c19e3e..19571b598f 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -114,10 +114,6 @@ static int setup_tracking(const char *new_ref, const char *orig_ref,
 	struct tracking tracking;
 	int config_flags = quiet ? 0 : BRANCH_CONFIG_VERBOSE;
 
-	if (strlen(new_ref) > 1024 - 7 - 7 - 1)
-		return error(_("Tracking not set up: name too long: %s"),
-				new_ref);
-
 	memset(&tracking, 0, sizeof(tracking));
 	tracking.spec.dst = (char *)orig_ref;
 	if (for_each_remote(find_tracked_branch, &tracking))