diff --git a/Documentation/git.txt b/Documentation/git.txt
index 2f72b10224a..c463b937a86 100644
--- a/Documentation/git.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git.txt
@@ -722,6 +722,10 @@ of clones and fetches.
 	time of each Git command.
 	See `GIT_TRACE` for available trace output options.
 
+`GIT_TRACE_REFS`::
+	Enables trace messages for operations on the ref database.
+	See `GIT_TRACE` for available trace output options.
+
 `GIT_TRACE_SETUP`::
 	Enables trace messages printing the .git, working tree and current
 	working directory after Git has completed its setup phase.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c651428c59b..92d188fd370 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -955,6 +955,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += rebase.o
 LIB_OBJS += ref-filter.o
 LIB_OBJS += reflog-walk.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs.o
+LIB_OBJS += refs/debug.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs/files-backend.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs/iterator.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs/packed-backend.o
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 8374dfefa61..fa01153151a 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1774,6 +1774,7 @@ struct ref_store *get_main_ref_store(struct repository *r)
 		BUG("attempting to get main_ref_store outside of repository");
 
 	r->refs_private = ref_store_init(r->gitdir, REF_STORE_ALL_CAPS);
+	r->refs_private = maybe_debug_wrap_ref_store(r->gitdir, r->refs_private);
 	return r->refs_private;
 }
 
diff --git a/refs/debug.c b/refs/debug.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..922e64fa6ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/refs/debug.c
@@ -0,0 +1,398 @@
+
+#include "refs-internal.h"
+#include "trace.h"
+
+static struct trace_key trace_refs = TRACE_KEY_INIT(REFS);
+
+struct debug_ref_store {
+	struct ref_store base;
+	struct ref_store *refs;
+};
+
+extern struct ref_storage_be refs_be_debug;
+
+struct ref_store *maybe_debug_wrap_ref_store(const char *gitdir, struct ref_store *store)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *res;
+	struct ref_storage_be *be_copy;
+
+	if (!trace_want(&trace_refs)) {
+		return store;
+	}
+	res = xmalloc(sizeof(struct debug_ref_store));
+	be_copy = xmalloc(sizeof(*be_copy));
+	*be_copy = refs_be_debug;
+	/* we never deallocate backends, so safe to copy the pointer. */
+	be_copy->name = store->be->name;
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "ref_store for %s\n", gitdir);
+	res->refs = store;
+	base_ref_store_init((struct ref_store *)res, be_copy);
+	return (struct ref_store *)res;
+}
+
+static int debug_init_db(struct ref_store *refs, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)refs;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->init_db(drefs->refs, err);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "init_db: %d\n", res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_transaction_prepare(struct ref_store *refs,
+				     struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				     struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)refs;
+	int res;
+	transaction->ref_store = drefs->refs;
+	res = drefs->refs->be->transaction_prepare(drefs->refs, transaction,
+						   err);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "transaction_prepare: %d\n", res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static void print_update(int i, const char *refname,
+			 const struct object_id *old_oid,
+			 const struct object_id *new_oid, unsigned int flags,
+			 unsigned int type, const char *msg)
+{
+	char o[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = "null";
+	char n[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = "null";
+	if (old_oid)
+		oid_to_hex_r(o, old_oid);
+	if (new_oid)
+		oid_to_hex_r(n, new_oid);
+
+	type &= 0xf; /* see refs.h REF_* */
+	flags &= REF_HAVE_NEW | REF_HAVE_OLD | REF_NO_DEREF |
+		REF_FORCE_CREATE_REFLOG;
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "%d: %s %s -> %s (F=0x%x, T=0x%x) \"%s\"\n", i, refname,
+		o, n, flags, type, msg);
+}
+
+static void print_transaction(struct ref_transaction *transaction)
+{
+	int i;
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "transaction {\n");
+	for (i = 0; i < transaction->nr; i++) {
+		struct ref_update *u = transaction->updates[i];
+		print_update(i, u->refname, &u->old_oid, &u->new_oid, u->flags,
+			     u->type, u->msg);
+	}
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "}\n");
+}
+
+static int debug_transaction_finish(struct ref_store *refs,
+				    struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				    struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)refs;
+	int res;
+	transaction->ref_store = drefs->refs;
+	res = drefs->refs->be->transaction_finish(drefs->refs, transaction,
+						  err);
+	print_transaction(transaction);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "finish: %d\n", res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_transaction_abort(struct ref_store *refs,
+				   struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+				   struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)refs;
+	int res;
+	transaction->ref_store = drefs->refs;
+	res = drefs->refs->be->transaction_abort(drefs->refs, transaction, err);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_initial_transaction_commit(struct ref_store *refs,
+					    struct ref_transaction *transaction,
+					    struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)refs;
+	int res;
+	transaction->ref_store = drefs->refs;
+	res = drefs->refs->be->initial_transaction_commit(drefs->refs,
+							  transaction, err);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_pack_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store, unsigned int flags)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->pack_refs(drefs->refs, flags);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "pack_refs: %d\n", res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_create_symref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
+			       const char *ref_name, const char *target,
+			       const char *logmsg)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->create_symref(drefs->refs, ref_name, target,
+						 logmsg);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "create_symref: %s -> %s \"%s\": %d\n", ref_name,
+		target, logmsg, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_delete_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *msg,
+			     struct string_list *refnames, unsigned int flags)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res =
+		drefs->refs->be->delete_refs(drefs->refs, msg, refnames, flags);
+	int i;
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "delete_refs {\n");
+	for (i = 0; i < refnames->nr; i++)
+		trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "%s\n", refnames->items[i].string);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "}: %d\n", res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_rename_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *oldref,
+			    const char *newref, const char *logmsg)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->rename_ref(drefs->refs, oldref, newref,
+					      logmsg);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "rename_ref: %s -> %s \"%s\": %d\n", oldref, newref,
+		logmsg, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_copy_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *oldref,
+			  const char *newref, const char *logmsg)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res =
+		drefs->refs->be->copy_ref(drefs->refs, oldref, newref, logmsg);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "copy_ref: %s -> %s \"%s\": %d\n", oldref, newref,
+		logmsg, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+struct debug_ref_iterator {
+	struct ref_iterator base;
+	struct ref_iterator *iter;
+};
+
+static int debug_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_iterator *diter =
+		(struct debug_ref_iterator *)ref_iterator;
+	int res = diter->iter->vtable->advance(diter->iter);
+	if (res)
+		trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "iterator_advance: (%d)\n", res);
+	else
+		trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "iterator_advance: %s (0)\n",
+			diter->iter->refname);
+
+	diter->base.ordered = diter->iter->ordered;
+	diter->base.refname = diter->iter->refname;
+	diter->base.oid = diter->iter->oid;
+	diter->base.flags = diter->iter->flags;
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_ref_iterator_peel(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator,
+				   struct object_id *peeled)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_iterator *diter =
+		(struct debug_ref_iterator *)ref_iterator;
+	int res = diter->iter->vtable->peel(diter->iter, peeled);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "iterator_peel: %s: %d\n", diter->iter->refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_ref_iterator_abort(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_iterator *diter =
+		(struct debug_ref_iterator *)ref_iterator;
+	int res = diter->iter->vtable->abort(diter->iter);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "iterator_abort: %d\n", res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static struct ref_iterator_vtable debug_ref_iterator_vtable = {
+	debug_ref_iterator_advance, debug_ref_iterator_peel,
+	debug_ref_iterator_abort
+};
+
+static struct ref_iterator *
+debug_ref_iterator_begin(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *prefix,
+			 unsigned int flags)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	struct ref_iterator *res =
+		drefs->refs->be->iterator_begin(drefs->refs, prefix, flags);
+	struct debug_ref_iterator *diter = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*diter));
+	base_ref_iterator_init(&diter->base, &debug_ref_iterator_vtable, 1);
+	diter->iter = res;
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "ref_iterator_begin: %s (0x%x)\n", prefix, flags);
+	return &diter->base;
+}
+
+static int debug_read_raw_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *refname,
+			      struct object_id *oid, struct strbuf *referent,
+			      unsigned int *type)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = 0;
+
+	oidcpy(oid, &null_oid);
+	res = drefs->refs->be->read_raw_ref(drefs->refs, refname, oid, referent,
+					    type);
+
+	if (res == 0) {
+		trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "read_raw_ref: %s: %s (=> %s) type %x: %d\n",
+			refname, oid_to_hex(oid), referent->buf, *type, res);
+	} else {
+		trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "read_raw_ref: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	}
+	return res;
+}
+
+static struct ref_iterator *
+debug_reflog_iterator_begin(struct ref_store *ref_store)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	struct ref_iterator *res =
+		drefs->refs->be->reflog_iterator_begin(drefs->refs);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "for_each_reflog_iterator_begin\n");
+	return res;
+}
+
+struct debug_reflog {
+	const char *refname;
+	each_reflog_ent_fn *fn;
+	void *cb_data;
+};
+
+static int debug_print_reflog_ent(struct object_id *old_oid,
+				  struct object_id *new_oid,
+				  const char *committer, timestamp_t timestamp,
+				  int tz, const char *msg, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct debug_reflog *dbg = (struct debug_reflog *)cb_data;
+	int ret;
+	char o[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = "null";
+	char n[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = "null";
+	if (old_oid)
+		oid_to_hex_r(o, old_oid);
+	if (new_oid)
+		oid_to_hex_r(n, new_oid);
+
+	ret = dbg->fn(old_oid, new_oid, committer, timestamp, tz, msg,
+		      dbg->cb_data);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "reflog_ent %s (ret %d): %s -> %s, %s %ld \"%s\"\n",
+		dbg->refname, ret, o, n, committer, (long int)timestamp, msg);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int debug_for_each_reflog_ent(struct ref_store *ref_store,
+				     const char *refname, each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+				     void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	struct debug_reflog dbg = {
+		.refname = refname,
+		.fn = fn,
+		.cb_data = cb_data,
+	};
+
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->for_each_reflog_ent(
+		drefs->refs, refname, &debug_print_reflog_ent, &dbg);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "for_each_reflog: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(struct ref_store *ref_store,
+					     const char *refname,
+					     each_reflog_ent_fn fn,
+					     void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	struct debug_reflog dbg = {
+		.refname = refname,
+		.fn = fn,
+		.cb_data = cb_data,
+	};
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->for_each_reflog_ent_reverse(
+		drefs->refs, refname, &debug_print_reflog_ent, &dbg);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "for_each_reflog_reverse: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_reflog_exists(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *refname)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->reflog_exists(drefs->refs, refname);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "reflog_exists: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_create_reflog(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *refname,
+			       int force_create, struct strbuf *err)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->create_reflog(drefs->refs, refname,
+						 force_create, err);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "create_reflog: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_delete_reflog(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *refname)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->delete_reflog(drefs->refs, refname);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "delete_reflog: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+static int debug_reflog_expire(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *refname,
+			       const struct object_id *oid, unsigned int flags,
+			       reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+			       reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+			       reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+			       void *policy_cb_data)
+{
+	struct debug_ref_store *drefs = (struct debug_ref_store *)ref_store;
+	int res = drefs->refs->be->reflog_expire(drefs->refs, refname, oid,
+						 flags, prepare_fn,
+						 should_prune_fn, cleanup_fn,
+						 policy_cb_data);
+	trace_printf_key(&trace_refs, "reflog_expire: %s: %d\n", refname, res);
+	return res;
+}
+
+struct ref_storage_be refs_be_debug = {
+	NULL,
+	"debug",
+	NULL,
+	debug_init_db,
+	debug_transaction_prepare,
+	debug_transaction_finish,
+	debug_transaction_abort,
+	debug_initial_transaction_commit,
+
+	debug_pack_refs,
+	debug_create_symref,
+	debug_delete_refs,
+	debug_rename_ref,
+	debug_copy_ref,
+
+	debug_ref_iterator_begin,
+	debug_read_raw_ref,
+
+	debug_reflog_iterator_begin,
+	debug_for_each_reflog_ent,
+	debug_for_each_reflog_ent_reverse,
+	debug_reflog_exists,
+	debug_create_reflog,
+	debug_delete_reflog,
+	debug_reflog_expire,
+};
diff --git a/refs/refs-internal.h b/refs/refs-internal.h
index 87a1201bf93..467f4b3c936 100644
--- a/refs/refs-internal.h
+++ b/refs/refs-internal.h
@@ -697,4 +697,9 @@ int parse_loose_ref_contents(const char *buf, struct object_id *oid,
 void base_ref_store_init(struct ref_store *refs,
 			 const struct ref_storage_be *be);
 
+/*
+ * Support GIT_TRACE_REFS by optionally wrapping the given ref_store instance.
+ */
+struct ref_store *maybe_debug_wrap_ref_store(const char *gitdir, struct ref_store *store);
+
 #endif /* REFS_REFS_INTERNAL_H */