diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 4684ffe2a..05a4be0c0 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -4081,10 +4081,13 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 		/*
 		 * It doesn't make sense to adjust a reference pointed
 		 * to by a symbolic ref based on expiring entries in
-		 * the symbolic reference's reflog.
+		 * the symbolic reference's reflog. Nor can we update
+		 * a reference if there are no remaining reflog
+		 * entries.
 		 */
 		int update = (flags & EXPIRE_REFLOGS_UPDATE_REF) &&
-			!(type & REF_ISSYMREF);
+			!(type & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
+			!is_null_sha1(cb.last_kept_sha1);
 
 		if (close_lock_file(&reflog_lock)) {
 			status |= error("couldn't write %s: %s", log_file,