diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 4db73ed8f0..8300cc1b54 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ static struct cached_refs {
 } cached_refs;
 static struct ref_list *current_ref;
 
+static struct ref_list *extra_refs;
+
 static void free_ref_list(struct ref_list *list)
 {
 	struct ref_list *next;
@@ -215,6 +217,17 @@ static void read_packed_refs(FILE *f, struct cached_refs *cached_refs)
 	cached_refs->packed = sort_ref_list(list);
 }
 
+void add_extra_ref(const char *name, const unsigned char *sha1, int flag)
+{
+	extra_refs = add_ref(name, sha1, flag, extra_refs, NULL);
+}
+
+void clear_extra_refs(void)
+{
+	free_ref_list(extra_refs);
+	extra_refs = NULL;
+}
+
 static struct ref_list *get_packed_refs(void)
 {
 	if (!cached_refs.did_packed) {
@@ -536,6 +549,11 @@ static int do_for_each_ref(const char *base, each_ref_fn fn, int trim,
 	struct ref_list *packed = get_packed_refs();
 	struct ref_list *loose = get_loose_refs();
 
+	struct ref_list *extra;
+
+	for (extra = extra_refs; extra; extra = extra->next)
+		retval = do_one_ref(base, fn, trim, cb_data, extra);
+
 	while (packed && loose) {
 		struct ref_list *entry;
 		int cmp = strcmp(packed->name, loose->name);
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 06abee1526..06ad260556 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -24,6 +24,15 @@ extern int for_each_tag_ref(each_ref_fn, void *);
 extern int for_each_branch_ref(each_ref_fn, void *);
 extern int for_each_remote_ref(each_ref_fn, void *);
 
+/*
+ * Extra refs will be listed by for_each_ref() before any actual refs
+ * for the duration of this process or until clear_extra_refs() is
+ * called. Only extra refs added before for_each_ref() is called will
+ * be listed on a given call of for_each_ref().
+ */
+extern void add_extra_ref(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flags);
+extern void clear_extra_refs(void);
+
 extern int peel_ref(const char *, unsigned char *);
 
 /** Locks a "refs/" ref returning the lock on success and NULL on failure. **/