diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 8b2a3c1378..e88ed8b2d3 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -925,7 +925,8 @@ static int log_ref_write(struct ref_lock *lock,
 	const char *committer;
 
 	if (log_all_ref_updates &&
-	    !strncmp(lock->ref_name, "refs/heads/", 11)) {
+	    (!strncmp(lock->ref_name, "refs/heads/", 11) ||
+	     !strncmp(lock->ref_name, "refs/remotes/", 13))) {
 		if (safe_create_leading_directories(lock->log_file) < 0)
 			return error("unable to create directory for %s",
 				lock->log_file);