diff --git a/builtin/reflog.c b/builtin/reflog.c
index 2d85d260ca..49c64f96d8 100644
--- a/builtin/reflog.c
+++ b/builtin/reflog.c
@@ -22,18 +22,13 @@ static unsigned long default_reflog_expire_unreachable;
 
 struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb {
 	struct rev_info revs;
-	int dry_run;
 	int stalefix;
-	int rewrite;
-	int updateref;
-	int verbose;
 	unsigned long expire_total;
 	unsigned long expire_unreachable;
 	int recno;
 };
 
-struct expire_reflog_cb {
-	FILE *newlog;
+struct expire_reflog_policy_cb {
 	enum {
 		UE_NORMAL,
 		UE_ALWAYS,
@@ -41,14 +36,16 @@ struct expire_reflog_cb {
 	} unreachable_expire_kind;
 	struct commit_list *mark_list;
 	unsigned long mark_limit;
-	struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb *cmd;
-	unsigned char last_kept_sha1[20];
+	struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb cmd;
+	struct commit *tip_commit;
+	struct commit_list *tips;
 };
 
 struct collected_reflog {
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	char reflog[FLEX_ARRAY];
 };
+
 struct collect_reflog_cb {
 	struct collected_reflog **e;
 	int alloc;
@@ -220,7 +217,7 @@ static int keep_entry(struct commit **it, unsigned char *sha1)
  * the expire_limit and queue them back, so that the caller can call
  * us again to restart the traversal with longer expire_limit.
  */
-static void mark_reachable(struct expire_reflog_cb *cb)
+static void mark_reachable(struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *cb)
 {
 	struct commit *commit;
 	struct commit_list *pending;
@@ -259,7 +256,7 @@ static void mark_reachable(struct expire_reflog_cb *cb)
 	cb->mark_list = leftover;
 }
 
-static int unreachable(struct expire_reflog_cb *cb, struct commit *commit, unsigned char *sha1)
+static int unreachable(struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *cb, struct commit *commit, unsigned char *sha1)
 {
 	/*
 	 * We may or may not have the commit yet - if not, look it
@@ -288,55 +285,39 @@ static int unreachable(struct expire_reflog_cb *cb, struct commit *commit, unsig
 	return !(commit->object.flags & REACHABLE);
 }
 
-static int expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
-		const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
-		const char *message, void *cb_data)
+/*
+ * Return true iff the specified reflog entry should be expired.
+ */
+static int should_expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+				    const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
+				    const char *message, void *cb_data)
 {
-	struct expire_reflog_cb *cb = cb_data;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *cb = cb_data;
 	struct commit *old, *new;
 
-	if (timestamp < cb->cmd->expire_total)
-		goto prune;
-
-	if (cb->cmd->rewrite)
-		osha1 = cb->last_kept_sha1;
+	if (timestamp < cb->cmd.expire_total)
+		return 1;
 
 	old = new = NULL;
-	if (cb->cmd->stalefix &&
+	if (cb->cmd.stalefix &&
 	    (!keep_entry(&old, osha1) || !keep_entry(&new, nsha1)))
-		goto prune;
+		return 1;
 
-	if (timestamp < cb->cmd->expire_unreachable) {
+	if (timestamp < cb->cmd.expire_unreachable) {
 		if (cb->unreachable_expire_kind == UE_ALWAYS)
-			goto prune;
+			return 1;
 		if (unreachable(cb, old, osha1) || unreachable(cb, new, nsha1))
-			goto prune;
+			return 1;
 	}
 
-	if (cb->cmd->recno && --(cb->cmd->recno) == 0)
-		goto prune;
+	if (cb->cmd.recno && --(cb->cmd.recno) == 0)
+		return 1;
 
-	if (cb->newlog) {
-		char sign = (tz < 0) ? '-' : '+';
-		int zone = (tz < 0) ? (-tz) : tz;
-		fprintf(cb->newlog, "%s %s %s %lu %c%04d\t%s",
-			sha1_to_hex(osha1), sha1_to_hex(nsha1),
-			email, timestamp, sign, zone,
-			message);
-		hashcpy(cb->last_kept_sha1, nsha1);
-	}
-	if (cb->cmd->verbose)
-		printf("keep %s", message);
-	return 0;
- prune:
-	if (!cb->newlog)
-		printf("would prune %s", message);
-	else if (cb->cmd->verbose)
-		printf("prune %s", message);
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int push_tip_to_list(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int flags, void *cb_data)
+static int push_tip_to_list(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+			    int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct commit_list **list = cb_data;
 	struct commit *tip_commit;
@@ -349,104 +330,56 @@ static int push_tip_to_list(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1, int
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int expire_reflog(const char *ref, const unsigned char *sha1, int unused, void *cb_data)
+static void reflog_expiry_prepare(const char *refname,
+				  const unsigned char *sha1,
+				  void *cb_data)
 {
-	struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb *cmd = cb_data;
-	struct expire_reflog_cb cb;
-	struct ref_lock *lock;
-	char *log_file, *newlog_path = NULL;
-	struct commit *tip_commit;
-	struct commit_list *tips;
-	int status = 0;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *cb = cb_data;
 
-	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
-
-	/*
-	 * we take the lock for the ref itself to prevent it from
-	 * getting updated.
-	 */
-	lock = lock_any_ref_for_update(ref, sha1, 0, NULL);
-	if (!lock)
-		return error("cannot lock ref '%s'", ref);
-	log_file = git_pathdup("logs/%s", ref);
-	if (!reflog_exists(ref))
-		goto finish;
-	if (!cmd->dry_run) {
-		newlog_path = git_pathdup("logs/%s.lock", ref);
-		cb.newlog = fopen(newlog_path, "w");
-	}
-
-	cb.cmd = cmd;
-
-	if (!cmd->expire_unreachable || !strcmp(ref, "HEAD")) {
-		tip_commit = NULL;
-		cb.unreachable_expire_kind = UE_HEAD;
+	if (!cb->cmd.expire_unreachable || !strcmp(refname, "HEAD")) {
+		cb->tip_commit = NULL;
+		cb->unreachable_expire_kind = UE_HEAD;
 	} else {
-		tip_commit = lookup_commit_reference_gently(sha1, 1);
-		if (!tip_commit)
-			cb.unreachable_expire_kind = UE_ALWAYS;
+		cb->tip_commit = lookup_commit_reference_gently(sha1, 1);
+		if (!cb->tip_commit)
+			cb->unreachable_expire_kind = UE_ALWAYS;
 		else
-			cb.unreachable_expire_kind = UE_NORMAL;
+			cb->unreachable_expire_kind = UE_NORMAL;
 	}
 
-	if (cmd->expire_unreachable <= cmd->expire_total)
-		cb.unreachable_expire_kind = UE_ALWAYS;
+	if (cb->cmd.expire_unreachable <= cb->cmd.expire_total)
+		cb->unreachable_expire_kind = UE_ALWAYS;
 
-	cb.mark_list = NULL;
-	tips = NULL;
-	if (cb.unreachable_expire_kind != UE_ALWAYS) {
-		if (cb.unreachable_expire_kind == UE_HEAD) {
+	cb->mark_list = NULL;
+	cb->tips = NULL;
+	if (cb->unreachable_expire_kind != UE_ALWAYS) {
+		if (cb->unreachable_expire_kind == UE_HEAD) {
 			struct commit_list *elem;
-			for_each_ref(push_tip_to_list, &tips);
-			for (elem = tips; elem; elem = elem->next)
-				commit_list_insert(elem->item, &cb.mark_list);
+			for_each_ref(push_tip_to_list, &cb->tips);
+			for (elem = cb->tips; elem; elem = elem->next)
+				commit_list_insert(elem->item, &cb->mark_list);
 		} else {
-			commit_list_insert(tip_commit, &cb.mark_list);
+			commit_list_insert(cb->tip_commit, &cb->mark_list);
 		}
-		cb.mark_limit = cmd->expire_total;
-		mark_reachable(&cb);
+		cb->mark_limit = cb->cmd.expire_total;
+		mark_reachable(cb);
 	}
+}
 
-	for_each_reflog_ent(ref, expire_reflog_ent, &cb);
+static void reflog_expiry_cleanup(void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *cb = cb_data;
 
-	if (cb.unreachable_expire_kind != UE_ALWAYS) {
-		if (cb.unreachable_expire_kind == UE_HEAD) {
+	if (cb->unreachable_expire_kind != UE_ALWAYS) {
+		if (cb->unreachable_expire_kind == UE_HEAD) {
 			struct commit_list *elem;
-			for (elem = tips; elem; elem = elem->next)
+			for (elem = cb->tips; elem; elem = elem->next)
 				clear_commit_marks(elem->item, REACHABLE);
-			free_commit_list(tips);
+			free_commit_list(cb->tips);
 		} else {
-			clear_commit_marks(tip_commit, REACHABLE);
+			clear_commit_marks(cb->tip_commit, REACHABLE);
 		}
 	}
- finish:
-	if (cb.newlog) {
-		if (fclose(cb.newlog)) {
-			status |= error("%s: %s", strerror(errno),
-					newlog_path);
-			unlink(newlog_path);
-		} else if (cmd->updateref &&
-			(write_in_full(lock->lock_fd,
-				sha1_to_hex(cb.last_kept_sha1), 40) != 40 ||
-			 write_str_in_full(lock->lock_fd, "\n") != 1 ||
-			 close_ref(lock) < 0)) {
-			status |= error("Couldn't write %s",
-					lock->lk->filename.buf);
-			unlink(newlog_path);
-		} else if (rename(newlog_path, log_file)) {
-			status |= error("cannot rename %s to %s",
-					newlog_path, log_file);
-			unlink(newlog_path);
-		} else if (cmd->updateref && commit_ref(lock)) {
-			status |= error("Couldn't set %s", lock->ref_name);
-		} else {
-			adjust_shared_perm(log_file);
-		}
-	}
-	free(newlog_path);
-	free(log_file);
-	unlock_ref(lock);
-	return status;
 }
 
 static int collect_reflog(const char *ref, const unsigned char *sha1, int unused, void *cb_data)
@@ -590,10 +523,11 @@ static void set_reflog_expiry_param(struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb *cb, int slot, c
 
 static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
-	struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb cb;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb cb;
 	unsigned long now = time(NULL);
 	int i, status, do_all;
 	int explicit_expiry = 0;
+	unsigned int flags = 0;
 
 	default_reflog_expire_unreachable = now - 30 * 24 * 3600;
 	default_reflog_expire = now - 90 * 24 * 3600;
@@ -603,33 +537,33 @@ static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	do_all = status = 0;
 	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
 
-	cb.expire_total = default_reflog_expire;
-	cb.expire_unreachable = default_reflog_expire_unreachable;
+	cb.cmd.expire_total = default_reflog_expire;
+	cb.cmd.expire_unreachable = default_reflog_expire_unreachable;
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--dry-run") || !strcmp(arg, "-n"))
-			cb.dry_run = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN;
 		else if (starts_with(arg, "--expire=")) {
-			if (parse_expiry_date(arg + 9, &cb.expire_total))
+			if (parse_expiry_date(arg + 9, &cb.cmd.expire_total))
 				die(_("'%s' is not a valid timestamp"), arg);
 			explicit_expiry |= EXPIRE_TOTAL;
 		}
 		else if (starts_with(arg, "--expire-unreachable=")) {
-			if (parse_expiry_date(arg + 21, &cb.expire_unreachable))
+			if (parse_expiry_date(arg + 21, &cb.cmd.expire_unreachable))
 				die(_("'%s' is not a valid timestamp"), arg);
 			explicit_expiry |= EXPIRE_UNREACH;
 		}
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--stale-fix"))
-			cb.stalefix = 1;
+			cb.cmd.stalefix = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--rewrite"))
-			cb.rewrite = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_REWRITE;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--updateref"))
-			cb.updateref = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--all"))
 			do_all = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--verbose"))
-			cb.verbose = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--")) {
 			i++;
 			break;
@@ -645,12 +579,12 @@ static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 * even in older repository.  We cannot trust what's reachable
 	 * from reflog if the repository was pruned with older git.
 	 */
-	if (cb.stalefix) {
-		init_revisions(&cb.revs, prefix);
-		if (cb.verbose)
+	if (cb.cmd.stalefix) {
+		init_revisions(&cb.cmd.revs, prefix);
+		if (flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE)
 			printf("Marking reachable objects...");
-		mark_reachable_objects(&cb.revs, 0, 0, NULL);
-		if (cb.verbose)
+		mark_reachable_objects(&cb.cmd.revs, 0, 0, NULL);
+		if (flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE)
 			putchar('\n');
 	}
 
@@ -662,8 +596,12 @@ static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		for_each_reflog(collect_reflog, &collected);
 		for (i = 0; i < collected.nr; i++) {
 			struct collected_reflog *e = collected.e[i];
-			set_reflog_expiry_param(&cb, explicit_expiry, e->reflog);
-			status |= expire_reflog(e->reflog, e->sha1, 0, &cb);
+			set_reflog_expiry_param(&cb.cmd, explicit_expiry, e->reflog);
+			status |= reflog_expire(e->reflog, e->sha1, flags,
+						reflog_expiry_prepare,
+						should_expire_reflog_ent,
+						reflog_expiry_cleanup,
+						&cb);
 			free(e);
 		}
 		free(collected.e);
@@ -676,8 +614,12 @@ static int cmd_reflog_expire(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			status |= error("%s points nowhere!", argv[i]);
 			continue;
 		}
-		set_reflog_expiry_param(&cb, explicit_expiry, ref);
-		status |= expire_reflog(ref, sha1, 0, &cb);
+		set_reflog_expiry_param(&cb.cmd, explicit_expiry, ref);
+		status |= reflog_expire(ref, sha1, flags,
+					reflog_expiry_prepare,
+					should_expire_reflog_ent,
+					reflog_expiry_cleanup,
+					&cb);
 	}
 	return status;
 }
@@ -686,29 +628,30 @@ static int count_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
 		const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
 		const char *message, void *cb_data)
 {
-	struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb *cb = cb_data;
-	if (!cb->expire_total || timestamp < cb->expire_total)
-		cb->recno++;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *cb = cb_data;
+	if (!cb->cmd.expire_total || timestamp < cb->cmd.expire_total)
+		cb->cmd.recno++;
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static int cmd_reflog_delete(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
-	struct cmd_reflog_expire_cb cb;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb cb;
 	int i, status = 0;
+	unsigned int flags = 0;
 
 	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 		if (!strcmp(arg, "--dry-run") || !strcmp(arg, "-n"))
-			cb.dry_run = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--rewrite"))
-			cb.rewrite = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_REWRITE;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--updateref"))
-			cb.updateref = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--verbose"))
-			cb.verbose = 1;
+			flags |= EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE;
 		else if (!strcmp(arg, "--")) {
 			i++;
 			break;
@@ -740,15 +683,19 @@ static int cmd_reflog_delete(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 		recno = strtoul(spec + 2, &ep, 10);
 		if (*ep == '}') {
-			cb.recno = -recno;
+			cb.cmd.recno = -recno;
 			for_each_reflog_ent(ref, count_reflog_ent, &cb);
 		} else {
-			cb.expire_total = approxidate(spec + 2);
+			cb.cmd.expire_total = approxidate(spec + 2);
 			for_each_reflog_ent(ref, count_reflog_ent, &cb);
-			cb.expire_total = 0;
+			cb.cmd.expire_total = 0;
 		}
 
-		status |= expire_reflog(ref, sha1, 0, &cb);
+		status |= reflog_expire(ref, sha1, flags,
+					reflog_expiry_prepare,
+					should_expire_reflog_ent,
+					reflog_expiry_cleanup,
+					&cb);
 		free(ref);
 	}
 	return status;
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index ed3b2cb405..c5fa70947f 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -6,6 +6,15 @@
 #include "dir.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 
+struct ref_lock {
+	char *ref_name;
+	char *orig_ref_name;
+	struct lock_file *lk;
+	unsigned char old_sha1[20];
+	int lock_fd;
+	int force_write;
+};
+
 /*
  * How to handle various characters in refnames:
  * 0: An acceptable character for refs
@@ -2094,6 +2103,16 @@ int refname_match(const char *abbrev_name, const char *full_name)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
+{
+	/* Do not free lock->lk -- atexit() still looks at them */
+	if (lock->lk)
+		rollback_lock_file(lock->lk);
+	free(lock->ref_name);
+	free(lock->orig_ref_name);
+	free(lock);
+}
+
 /* This function should make sure errno is meaningful on error */
 static struct ref_lock *verify_lock(struct ref_lock *lock,
 	const unsigned char *old_sha1, int mustexist)
@@ -2346,13 +2365,6 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-struct ref_lock *lock_any_ref_for_update(const char *refname,
-					 const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-					 int flags, int *type_p)
-{
-	return lock_ref_sha1_basic(refname, old_sha1, NULL, flags, type_p);
-}
-
 /*
  * Write an entry to the packed-refs file for the specified refname.
  * If peeled is non-NULL, write it as the entry's peeled value.
@@ -2901,7 +2913,7 @@ int rename_ref(const char *oldrefname, const char *newrefname, const char *logms
 	return 1;
 }
 
-int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
+static int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	if (close_lock_file(lock->lk))
 		return -1;
@@ -2909,7 +2921,7 @@ int close_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
+static int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 {
 	if (commit_lock_file(lock->lk))
 		return -1;
@@ -2917,16 +2929,6 @@ int commit_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void unlock_ref(struct ref_lock *lock)
-{
-	/* Do not free lock->lk -- atexit() still looks at them */
-	if (lock->lk)
-		rollback_lock_file(lock->lk);
-	free(lock->ref_name);
-	free(lock->orig_ref_name);
-	free(lock);
-}
-
 /*
  * copy the reflog message msg to buf, which has been allocated sufficiently
  * large, while cleaning up the whitespaces.  Especially, convert LF to space,
@@ -3003,15 +3005,37 @@ int log_ref_setup(const char *refname, char *logfile, int bufsize)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int log_ref_write_fd(int fd, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
+			    const unsigned char *new_sha1,
+			    const char *committer, const char *msg)
+{
+	int msglen, written;
+	unsigned maxlen, len;
+	char *logrec;
+
+	msglen = msg ? strlen(msg) : 0;
+	maxlen = strlen(committer) + msglen + 100;
+	logrec = xmalloc(maxlen);
+	len = sprintf(logrec, "%s %s %s\n",
+		      sha1_to_hex(old_sha1),
+		      sha1_to_hex(new_sha1),
+		      committer);
+	if (msglen)
+		len += copy_msg(logrec + len - 1, msg) - 1;
+
+	written = len <= maxlen ? write_in_full(fd, logrec, len) : -1;
+	free(logrec);
+	if (written != len)
+		return -1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 			 const unsigned char *new_sha1, const char *msg)
 {
-	int logfd, result, written, oflags = O_APPEND | O_WRONLY;
-	unsigned maxlen, len;
-	int msglen;
+	int logfd, result, oflags = O_APPEND | O_WRONLY;
 	char log_file[PATH_MAX];
-	char *logrec;
-	const char *committer;
 
 	if (log_all_ref_updates < 0)
 		log_all_ref_updates = !is_bare_repository();
@@ -3023,19 +3047,9 @@ static int log_ref_write(const char *refname, const unsigned char *old_sha1,
 	logfd = open(log_file, oflags);
 	if (logfd < 0)
 		return 0;
-	msglen = msg ? strlen(msg) : 0;
-	committer = git_committer_info(0);
-	maxlen = strlen(committer) + msglen + 100;
-	logrec = xmalloc(maxlen);
-	len = sprintf(logrec, "%s %s %s\n",
-		      sha1_to_hex(old_sha1),
-		      sha1_to_hex(new_sha1),
-		      committer);
-	if (msglen)
-		len += copy_msg(logrec + len - 1, msg) - 1;
-	written = len <= maxlen ? write_in_full(logfd, logrec, len) : -1;
-	free(logrec);
-	if (written != len) {
+	result = log_ref_write_fd(logfd, old_sha1, new_sha1,
+				  git_committer_info(0), msg);
+	if (result) {
 		int save_errno = errno;
 		close(logfd);
 		error("Unable to append to %s", log_file);
@@ -3661,31 +3675,8 @@ int ref_transaction_create(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 			   int flags, const char *msg,
 			   struct strbuf *err)
 {
-	struct ref_update *update;
-
-	assert(err);
-
-	if (transaction->state != REF_TRANSACTION_OPEN)
-		die("BUG: create called for transaction that is not open");
-
-	if (!new_sha1 || is_null_sha1(new_sha1))
-		die("BUG: create ref with null new_sha1");
-
-	if (check_refname_format(refname, REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL)) {
-		strbuf_addf(err, "refusing to create ref with bad name %s",
-			    refname);
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	update = add_update(transaction, refname);
-
-	hashcpy(update->new_sha1, new_sha1);
-	hashclr(update->old_sha1);
-	update->flags = flags;
-	update->have_old = 1;
-	if (msg)
-		update->msg = xstrdup(msg);
-	return 0;
+	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname, new_sha1,
+				      null_sha1, flags, 1, msg, err);
 }
 
 int ref_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
@@ -3694,26 +3685,8 @@ int ref_transaction_delete(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 			   int flags, int have_old, const char *msg,
 			   struct strbuf *err)
 {
-	struct ref_update *update;
-
-	assert(err);
-
-	if (transaction->state != REF_TRANSACTION_OPEN)
-		die("BUG: delete called for transaction that is not open");
-
-	if (have_old && !old_sha1)
-		die("BUG: have_old is true but old_sha1 is NULL");
-
-	update = add_update(transaction, refname);
-	update->flags = flags;
-	update->have_old = have_old;
-	if (have_old) {
-		assert(!is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
-		hashcpy(update->old_sha1, old_sha1);
-	}
-	if (msg)
-		update->msg = xstrdup(msg);
-	return 0;
+	return ref_transaction_update(transaction, refname, null_sha1,
+				      old_sha1, flags, have_old, msg, err);
 }
 
 int update_ref(const char *action, const char *refname,
@@ -4009,3 +3982,129 @@ int ref_is_hidden(const char *refname)
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
+
+struct expire_reflog_cb {
+	unsigned int flags;
+	reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn *should_prune_fn;
+	void *policy_cb;
+	FILE *newlog;
+	unsigned char last_kept_sha1[20];
+};
+
+static int expire_reflog_ent(unsigned char *osha1, unsigned char *nsha1,
+			     const char *email, unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
+			     const char *message, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct expire_reflog_cb *cb = cb_data;
+	struct expire_reflog_policy_cb *policy_cb = cb->policy_cb;
+
+	if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_REWRITE)
+		osha1 = cb->last_kept_sha1;
+
+	if ((*cb->should_prune_fn)(osha1, nsha1, email, timestamp, tz,
+				   message, policy_cb)) {
+		if (!cb->newlog)
+			printf("would prune %s", message);
+		else if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE)
+			printf("prune %s", message);
+	} else {
+		if (cb->newlog) {
+			fprintf(cb->newlog, "%s %s %s %lu %+05d\t%s",
+				sha1_to_hex(osha1), sha1_to_hex(nsha1),
+				email, timestamp, tz, message);
+			hashcpy(cb->last_kept_sha1, nsha1);
+		}
+		if (cb->flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE)
+			printf("keep %s", message);
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+		 unsigned int flags,
+		 reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+		 reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+		 reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+		 void *policy_cb_data)
+{
+	static struct lock_file reflog_lock;
+	struct expire_reflog_cb cb;
+	struct ref_lock *lock;
+	char *log_file;
+	int status = 0;
+
+	memset(&cb, 0, sizeof(cb));
+	cb.flags = flags;
+	cb.policy_cb = policy_cb_data;
+	cb.should_prune_fn = should_prune_fn;
+
+	/*
+	 * The reflog file is locked by holding the lock on the
+	 * reference itself, plus we might need to update the
+	 * reference if --updateref was specified:
+	 */
+	lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(refname, sha1, NULL, 0, NULL);
+	if (!lock)
+		return error("cannot lock ref '%s'", refname);
+	if (!reflog_exists(refname)) {
+		unlock_ref(lock);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	log_file = git_pathdup("logs/%s", refname);
+	if (!(flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN)) {
+		/*
+		 * Even though holding $GIT_DIR/logs/$reflog.lock has
+		 * no locking implications, we use the lock_file
+		 * machinery here anyway because it does a lot of the
+		 * work we need, including cleaning up if the program
+		 * exits unexpectedly.
+		 */
+		if (hold_lock_file_for_update(&reflog_lock, log_file, 0) < 0) {
+			struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+			unable_to_lock_message(log_file, errno, &err);
+			error("%s", err.buf);
+			strbuf_release(&err);
+			goto failure;
+		}
+		cb.newlog = fdopen_lock_file(&reflog_lock, "w");
+		if (!cb.newlog) {
+			error("cannot fdopen %s (%s)",
+			      reflog_lock.filename.buf, strerror(errno));
+			goto failure;
+		}
+	}
+
+	(*prepare_fn)(refname, sha1, cb.policy_cb);
+	for_each_reflog_ent(refname, expire_reflog_ent, &cb);
+	(*cleanup_fn)(cb.policy_cb);
+
+	if (!(flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN)) {
+		if (close_lock_file(&reflog_lock)) {
+			status |= error("couldn't write %s: %s", log_file,
+					strerror(errno));
+		} else if ((flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF) &&
+			(write_in_full(lock->lock_fd,
+				sha1_to_hex(cb.last_kept_sha1), 40) != 40 ||
+			 write_str_in_full(lock->lock_fd, "\n") != 1 ||
+			 close_ref(lock) < 0)) {
+			status |= error("couldn't write %s",
+					lock->lk->filename.buf);
+			rollback_lock_file(&reflog_lock);
+		} else if (commit_lock_file(&reflog_lock)) {
+			status |= error("unable to commit reflog '%s' (%s)",
+					log_file, strerror(errno));
+		} else if ((flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF) && commit_ref(lock)) {
+			status |= error("couldn't set %s", lock->ref_name);
+		}
+	}
+	free(log_file);
+	unlock_ref(lock);
+	return status;
+
+ failure:
+	rollback_lock_file(&reflog_lock);
+	free(log_file);
+	unlock_ref(lock);
+	return -1;
+}
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 405c6572f1..afa3c4decd 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -1,15 +1,6 @@
 #ifndef REFS_H
 #define REFS_H
 
-struct ref_lock {
-	char *ref_name;
-	char *orig_ref_name;
-	struct lock_file *lk;
-	unsigned char old_sha1[20];
-	int lock_fd;
-	int force_write;
-};
-
 /*
  * A ref_transaction represents a collection of ref updates
  * that should succeed or fail together.
@@ -189,8 +180,7 @@ extern int is_branch(const char *refname);
 extern int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1);
 
 /*
- * Flags controlling lock_any_ref_for_update(), ref_transaction_update(),
- * ref_transaction_create(), etc.
+ * Flags controlling ref_transaction_update(), ref_transaction_create(), etc.
  * REF_NODEREF: act on the ref directly, instead of dereferencing
  *              symbolic references.
  * REF_DELETING: tolerate broken refs
@@ -199,21 +189,6 @@ extern int peel_ref(const char *refname, unsigned char *sha1);
  */
 #define REF_NODEREF	0x01
 #define REF_DELETING	0x02
-/*
- * This function sets errno to something meaningful on failure.
- */
-extern struct ref_lock *lock_any_ref_for_update(const char *refname,
-						const unsigned char *old_sha1,
-						int flags, int *type_p);
-
-/** 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);
 
 /*
  * Setup reflog before using. Set errno to something meaningful on failure.
@@ -291,7 +266,7 @@ struct ref_transaction *ref_transaction_begin(struct strbuf *err);
 
 /*
  * Add a reference update to transaction.  new_sha1 is the value that
- * the reference should have after the update, or zeros if it should
+ * the reference should have after the update, or null_sha1 if it should
  * be deleted.  If have_old is true, then old_sha1 holds the value
  * that the reference should have had before the update, or zeros if
  * it must not have existed beforehand.
@@ -361,4 +336,50 @@ int update_ref(const char *action, const char *refname,
 extern int parse_hide_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, const char *);
 extern int ref_is_hidden(const char *);
 
+enum expire_reflog_flags {
+	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_DRY_RUN = 1 << 0,
+	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF = 1 << 1,
+	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_VERBOSE = 1 << 2,
+	EXPIRE_REFLOGS_REWRITE = 1 << 3
+};
+
+/*
+ * The following interface is used for reflog expiration. The caller
+ * calls reflog_expire(), supplying it with three callback functions,
+ * of the following types. The callback functions define the
+ * expiration policy that is desired.
+ *
+ * reflog_expiry_prepare_fn -- Called once after the reference is
+ *     locked.
+ *
+ * reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn -- Called once for each entry in the
+ *     existing reflog. It should return true iff that entry should be
+ *     pruned.
+ *
+ * reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn -- Called once before the reference is
+ *     unlocked again.
+ */
+typedef void reflog_expiry_prepare_fn(const char *refname,
+				      const unsigned char *sha1,
+				      void *cb_data);
+typedef int reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn(unsigned char *osha1,
+					  unsigned char *nsha1,
+					  const char *email,
+					  unsigned long timestamp, int tz,
+					  const char *message, void *cb_data);
+typedef void reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn(void *cb_data);
+
+/*
+ * Expire reflog entries for the specified reference. sha1 is the old
+ * value of the reference. flags is a combination of the constants in
+ * enum expire_reflog_flags. The three function pointers are described
+ * above. On success, return zero.
+ */
+extern int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
+			 unsigned int flags,
+			 reflog_expiry_prepare_fn prepare_fn,
+			 reflog_expiry_should_prune_fn should_prune_fn,
+			 reflog_expiry_cleanup_fn cleanup_fn,
+			 void *policy_cb_data);
+
 #endif /* REFS_H */