diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index 35c0fe115..edf32d6e2 100644
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -2673,7 +2673,7 @@ class Project:
                 if update_ref_cmds:
                     GitCommand(
                         self,
-                        ["update-ref", "--no-deref", "--stdin"],
+                        ["update-ref", "--stdin"],
                         bare=True,
                         input="".join(update_ref_cmds),
                     ).Wait()
@@ -2921,7 +2921,7 @@ class Project:
                     )
                     GitCommand(
                         self,
-                        ["update-ref", "--no-deref", "--stdin"],
+                        ["update-ref", "--stdin"],
                         bare=True,
                         input=delete_cmds,
                         log_as_error=False,