diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index a2777793cf..34996fd654 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ int read_ref(const char *refname, struct object_id *oid)
 	return read_ref_full(refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, oid, NULL);
 }
 
-static int refs_ref_exists(struct ref_store *refs, const char *refname)
+int refs_ref_exists(struct ref_store *refs, const char *refname)
 {
 	return !!refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(refs, refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 29e28124cd..04bd25019f 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ int refs_verify_refname_available(struct ref_store *refs,
 				  const struct string_list *skip,
 				  struct strbuf *err);
 
+int refs_ref_exists(struct ref_store *refs, const char *refname);
+
 int ref_exists(const char *refname);
 
 int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname);