diff --git a/refs/packed-backend.c b/refs/packed-backend.c
index 38a1956d1a..f4c82ba2c7 100644
--- a/refs/packed-backend.c
+++ b/refs/packed-backend.c
@@ -819,6 +819,8 @@ struct packed_ref_iterator {
 
 	struct snapshot *snapshot;
 
+	char *prefix;
+
 	/* The current position in the snapshot's buffer: */
 	const char *pos;
 
@@ -841,11 +843,9 @@ struct packed_ref_iterator {
 };
 
 /*
- * Move the iterator to the next record in the snapshot, without
- * respect for whether the record is actually required by the current
- * iteration. Adjust the fields in `iter` and return `ITER_OK` or
- * `ITER_DONE`. This function does not free the iterator in the case
- * of `ITER_DONE`.
+ * Move the iterator to the next record in the snapshot. Adjust the fields in
+ * `iter` and return `ITER_OK` or `ITER_DONE`. This function does not free the
+ * iterator in the case of `ITER_DONE`.
  */
 static int next_record(struct packed_ref_iterator *iter)
 {
@@ -942,6 +942,9 @@ static int packed_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 	int ok;
 
 	while ((ok = next_record(iter)) == ITER_OK) {
+		const char *refname = iter->base.refname;
+		const char *prefix = iter->prefix;
+
 		if (iter->flags & DO_FOR_EACH_PER_WORKTREE_ONLY &&
 		    !is_per_worktree_ref(iter->base.refname))
 			continue;
@@ -951,12 +954,41 @@ static int packed_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 					    &iter->oid, iter->flags))
 			continue;
 
+		while (prefix && *prefix) {
+			if (*refname < *prefix)
+				BUG("packed-refs backend yielded reference preceding its prefix");
+			else if (*refname > *prefix)
+				return ITER_DONE;
+			prefix++;
+			refname++;
+		}
+
 		return ITER_OK;
 	}
 
 	return ok;
 }
 
+static int packed_ref_iterator_seek(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator,
+				    const char *prefix)
+{
+	struct packed_ref_iterator *iter =
+		(struct packed_ref_iterator *)ref_iterator;
+	const char *start;
+
+	if (prefix && *prefix)
+		start = find_reference_location(iter->snapshot, prefix, 0);
+	else
+		start = iter->snapshot->start;
+
+	free(iter->prefix);
+	iter->prefix = xstrdup_or_null(prefix);
+	iter->pos = start;
+	iter->eof = iter->snapshot->eof;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int packed_ref_iterator_peel(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator,
 				   struct object_id *peeled)
 {
@@ -979,11 +1011,13 @@ static void packed_ref_iterator_release(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 		(struct packed_ref_iterator *)ref_iterator;
 	strbuf_release(&iter->refname_buf);
 	free(iter->jump);
+	free(iter->prefix);
 	release_snapshot(iter->snapshot);
 }
 
 static struct ref_iterator_vtable packed_ref_iterator_vtable = {
 	.advance = packed_ref_iterator_advance,
+	.seek = packed_ref_iterator_seek,
 	.peel = packed_ref_iterator_peel,
 	.release = packed_ref_iterator_release,
 };
@@ -1097,7 +1131,6 @@ static struct ref_iterator *packed_ref_iterator_begin(
 {
 	struct packed_ref_store *refs;
 	struct snapshot *snapshot;
-	const char *start;
 	struct packed_ref_iterator *iter;
 	struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator;
 	unsigned int required_flags = REF_STORE_READ;
@@ -1113,14 +1146,6 @@ static struct ref_iterator *packed_ref_iterator_begin(
 	 */
 	snapshot = get_snapshot(refs);
 
-	if (prefix && *prefix)
-		start = find_reference_location(snapshot, prefix, 0);
-	else
-		start = snapshot->start;
-
-	if (start == snapshot->eof)
-		return empty_ref_iterator_begin();
-
 	CALLOC_ARRAY(iter, 1);
 	ref_iterator = &iter->base;
 	base_ref_iterator_init(ref_iterator, &packed_ref_iterator_vtable);
@@ -1130,19 +1155,15 @@ static struct ref_iterator *packed_ref_iterator_begin(
 
 	iter->snapshot = snapshot;
 	acquire_snapshot(snapshot);
-
-	iter->pos = start;
-	iter->eof = snapshot->eof;
 	strbuf_init(&iter->refname_buf, 0);
-
 	iter->base.oid = &iter->oid;
-
 	iter->repo = ref_store->repo;
 	iter->flags = flags;
 
-	if (prefix && *prefix)
-		/* Stop iteration after we've gone *past* prefix: */
-		ref_iterator = prefix_ref_iterator_begin(ref_iterator, prefix, 0);
+	if (packed_ref_iterator_seek(&iter->base, prefix) < 0) {
+		ref_iterator_free(&iter->base);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	return ref_iterator;
 }