diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index be4ffdca24..7d4658aa94 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -2000,7 +2000,6 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 	struct strbuf ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
 	int last_errno = 0;
-	int lflags = LOCK_NO_DEREF;
 	int mustexist = (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
 	int resolve_flags = RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE;
 	int attempts_remaining = 3;
@@ -2083,7 +2082,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 		goto error_return;
 	}
 
-	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file.buf, lflags) < 0) {
+	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
 		last_errno = errno;
 		if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0)
 			/*