diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index b32e2d64d..985eeea59 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -874,9 +874,6 @@ static int push_refs_with_export(struct transport *transport,
 		}
 		free(private);
 
-		if (ref->deletion)
-			die("remote-helpers do not support ref deletion");
-
 		if (ref->peer_ref) {
 			if (strcmp(ref->peer_ref->name, ref->name))
 				die("remote-helpers do not support old:new syntax");