diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index 4ced2eba3..e6b93d026 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ static const char *update(struct command *cmd, struct shallow_info *si)
 			return "deletion prohibited";
 		}
 
-		if (!strcmp(namespaced_name, head_name)) {
+		if (head_name && !strcmp(namespaced_name, head_name)) {
 			switch (deny_delete_current) {
 			case DENY_IGNORE:
 				break;