diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 67d2a502af..bc654299c9 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldref, const char *newref, const char *logmsg)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
+int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	if (close_lock_file(lock->lk))
 		return -1;
@@ -1026,7 +1026,7 @@ static int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
+int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	if (commit_lock_file(lock->lk))
 		return -1;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 9cd16f8295..06abee1526 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ extern struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1(const char *ref, const unsigned char *old_
 #define REF_NODEREF	0x01
 extern struct ref_lock *lock_any_ref_for_update(const char *ref, const unsigned char *old_sha1, int flags);
 
+/** Close the file descriptor owned by a lock and return the status */
+extern int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock);
+
+/** Close and commit the ref locked by the lock */
+extern int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock);
+
 /** Release any lock taken but not written. **/
 extern void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock);