diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 5e5a3824b9..2d0faf2326 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2039,6 +2039,7 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	int type, lflags;
 	int mustexist = (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
 	int missing = 0;
+	int attempts_remaining = 3;
 
 	lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct ref_lock));
 	lock->lock_fd = -1;
@@ -2093,7 +2094,15 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(const char *refname,
 	if ((flags & REF_NODEREF) && (type & REF_ISSYMREF))
 		lock->force_write = 1;
 
-	if (safe_create_leading_directories(ref_file)) {
+ retry:
+	switch (safe_create_leading_directories(ref_file)) {
+	case SCLD_OK:
+		break; /* success */
+	case SCLD_VANISHED:
+		if (--attempts_remaining > 0)
+			goto retry;
+		/* fall through */
+	default:
 		last_errno = errno;
 		error("unable to create directory for %s", ref_file);
 		goto error_return;