diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index 9f4a0b816c..a0b193ab3f 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -1971,6 +1971,15 @@ static void execute_commands(struct command *commands,
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * If there is no command ready to run, should return directly to destroy
+	 * temporary data in the quarantine area.
+	 */
+	for (cmd = commands; cmd && cmd->error_string; cmd = cmd->next)
+		; /* nothing */
+	if (!cmd)
+		return;
+
 	/*
 	 * Now we'll start writing out refs, which means the objects need
 	 * to be in their final positions so that other processes can see them.
diff --git a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
index 2f04cf9a1c..da70c45857 100755
--- a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
+++ b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
@@ -1809,4 +1809,12 @@ test_expect_success 'refuse fetch to current branch of bare repository worktree'
 	git -C bare.git fetch -u .. HEAD:wt
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'refuse to push a hidden ref, and make sure do not pollute the repository' '
+	mk_empty testrepo &&
+	git -C testrepo config receive.hiderefs refs/hidden &&
+	git -C testrepo config receive.unpackLimit 1 &&
+	test_must_fail git push testrepo HEAD:refs/hidden/foo &&
+	test_dir_is_empty testrepo/.git/objects/pack
+'
+
 test_done