diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 93bdc8f0c8..e9b95592b6 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -1149,24 +1149,16 @@ static int files_delete_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *msg,
 	if (!refnames->nr)
 		return 0;
 
-	result = repack_without_refs(refs->packed_ref_store, refnames, &err);
-	if (result) {
-		/*
-		 * If we failed to rewrite the packed-refs file, then
-		 * it is unsafe to try to remove loose refs, because
-		 * doing so might expose an obsolete packed value for
-		 * a reference that might even point at an object that
-		 * has been garbage collected.
-		 */
-		if (refnames->nr == 1)
-			error(_("could not delete reference %s: %s"),
-			      refnames->items[0].string, err.buf);
-		else
-			error(_("could not delete references: %s"), err.buf);
+	if (packed_refs_lock(refs->packed_ref_store, 0, &err))
+		goto error;
 
-		goto out;
+	if (repack_without_refs(refs->packed_ref_store, refnames, &err)) {
+		packed_refs_unlock(refs->packed_ref_store);
+		goto error;
 	}
 
+	packed_refs_unlock(refs->packed_ref_store);
+
 	for (i = 0; i < refnames->nr; i++) {
 		const char *refname = refnames->items[i].string;
 
@@ -1174,9 +1166,24 @@ static int files_delete_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *msg,
 			result |= error(_("could not remove reference %s"), refname);
 	}
 
-out:
 	strbuf_release(&err);
 	return result;
+
+error:
+	/*
+	 * If we failed to rewrite the packed-refs file, then it is
+	 * unsafe to try to remove loose refs, because doing so might
+	 * expose an obsolete packed value for a reference that might
+	 * even point at an object that has been garbage collected.
+	 */
+	if (refnames->nr == 1)
+		error(_("could not delete reference %s: %s"),
+		      refnames->items[0].string, err.buf);
+	else
+		error(_("could not delete references: %s"), err.buf);
+
+	strbuf_release(&err);
+	return -1;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -2569,11 +2576,19 @@ static int files_transaction_finish(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (repack_without_refs(refs->packed_ref_store, &refs_to_delete, err)) {
+	if (packed_refs_lock(refs->packed_ref_store, 0, err)) {
 		ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
+	if (repack_without_refs(refs->packed_ref_store, &refs_to_delete, err)) {
+		ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+		packed_refs_unlock(refs->packed_ref_store);
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
+
+	packed_refs_unlock(refs->packed_ref_store);
+
 	/* Delete the reflogs of any references that were deleted: */
 	for_each_string_list_item(ref_to_delete, &refs_to_delete) {
 		strbuf_reset(&sb);
diff --git a/refs/packed-backend.c b/refs/packed-backend.c
index 5cf6b3d40e..377c775adb 100644
--- a/refs/packed-backend.c
+++ b/refs/packed-backend.c
@@ -669,25 +669,12 @@ int commit_packed_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store, struct strbuf *err)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-/*
- * Rollback the lockfile for the packed-refs file, and discard the
- * in-memory packed reference cache.  (The packed-refs file will be
- * read anew if it is needed again after this function is called.)
- */
-static void rollback_packed_refs(struct packed_ref_store *refs)
-{
-	packed_assert_main_repository(refs, "rollback_packed_refs");
-
-	if (!is_lock_file_locked(&refs->lock))
-		die("BUG: packed-refs not locked");
-	packed_refs_unlock(&refs->base);
-	clear_packed_ref_cache(refs);
-}
-
 /*
  * Rewrite the packed-refs file, omitting any refs listed in
  * 'refnames'. On error, leave packed-refs unchanged, write an error
- * message to 'err', and return a nonzero value.
+ * message to 'err', and return a nonzero value. The packed refs lock
+ * must be held when calling this function; it will still be held when
+ * the function returns.
  *
  * The refs in 'refnames' needn't be sorted. `err` must not be NULL.
  */
@@ -700,11 +687,13 @@ int repack_without_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	struct ref_dir *packed;
 	struct string_list_item *refname;
 	int needs_repacking = 0, removed = 0;
-	int ret;
 
 	packed_assert_main_repository(refs, "repack_without_refs");
 	assert(err);
 
+	if (!is_lock_file_locked(&refs->lock))
+		die("BUG: repack_without_refs called without holding lock");
+
 	/* Look for a packed ref */
 	for_each_string_list_item(refname, refnames) {
 		if (get_packed_ref(refs, refname->string)) {
@@ -717,9 +706,6 @@ int repack_without_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	if (!needs_repacking)
 		return 0; /* no refname exists in packed refs */
 
-	if (packed_refs_lock(&refs->base, 0, err))
-		return -1;
-
 	packed = get_packed_refs(refs);
 
 	/* Remove refnames from the cache */
@@ -731,14 +717,12 @@ int repack_without_refs(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 		 * All packed entries disappeared while we were
 		 * acquiring the lock.
 		 */
-		rollback_packed_refs(refs);
+		clear_packed_ref_cache(refs);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
 	/* Write what remains */
-	ret = commit_packed_refs(&refs->base, err);
-	packed_refs_unlock(ref_store);
-	return ret;
+	return commit_packed_refs(&refs->base, err);
 }
 
 static int packed_init_db(struct ref_store *ref_store, struct strbuf *err)