diff --git a/Documentation/config.txt b/Documentation/config.txt
index 948b8b0e5..863057b25 100644
--- a/Documentation/config.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config.txt
@@ -624,6 +624,12 @@ core.commentChar::
 If set to "auto", `git-commit` would select a character that is not
 the beginning character of any line in existing commit messages.
 
+core.packedRefsTimeout::
+	The length of time, in milliseconds, to retry when trying to
+	lock the `packed-refs` file. Value 0 means not to retry at
+	all; -1 means to try indefinitely. Default is 1000 (i.e.,
+	retry for 1 second).
+
 sequence.editor::
 	Text editor used by `git rebase -i` for editing the rebase instruction file.
 	The value is meant to be interpreted by the shell when it is used.
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 81a455b80..8a4a9dd99 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2431,9 +2431,19 @@ static int write_packed_entry_fn(struct ref_entry *entry, void *cb_data)
 /* This should return a meaningful errno on failure */
 int lock_packed_refs(int flags)
 {
+	static int timeout_configured = 0;
+	static int timeout_value = 1000;
+
 	struct packed_ref_cache *packed_ref_cache;
 
-	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(&packlock, git_path("packed-refs"), flags) < 0)
+	if (!timeout_configured) {
+		git_config_get_int("core.packedrefstimeout", &timeout_value);
+		timeout_configured = 1;
+	}
+
+	if (hold_lock_file_for_update_timeout(
+			    &packlock, git_path("packed-refs"),
+			    flags, timeout_value) < 0)
 		return -1;
 	/*
 	 * Get the current packed-refs while holding the lock.  If the
diff --git a/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh b/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh
index aa9eb3a3e..8aae98d48 100755
--- a/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh
+++ b/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh
@@ -187,4 +187,21 @@ test_expect_success 'notice d/f conflict with existing ref' '
 	test_must_fail git branch foo/bar/baz/lots/of/extra/components
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'timeout if packed-refs.lock exists' '
+	LOCK=.git/packed-refs.lock &&
+	>"$LOCK" &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -f $LOCK" &&
+	test_must_fail git pack-refs --all --prune
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'retry acquiring packed-refs.lock' '
+	LOCK=.git/packed-refs.lock &&
+	>"$LOCK" &&
+	test_when_finished "wait; rm -f $LOCK" &&
+	{
+		( sleep 1 ; rm -f $LOCK ) &
+	} &&
+	git -c core.packedrefstimeout=3000 pack-refs --all --prune
+'
+
 test_done