diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 7415864b629..526bf5ed97a 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2084,6 +2084,9 @@ static int run_transaction_hook(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 	const char *hook;
 	int ret = 0, i;
 
+	if (transaction->flags & REF_TRANSACTION_SKIP_HOOK)
+		return 0;
+
 	hook = find_hook("reference-transaction");
 	if (!hook)
 		return ret;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 31f7bf96424..d4056f9fe26 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -568,6 +568,11 @@ enum action_on_err {
 	UPDATE_REFS_QUIET_ON_ERR
 };
 
+/*
+ * Skip executing the reference-transaction hook.
+ */
+#define REF_TRANSACTION_SKIP_HOOK (1 << 0)
+
 /*
  * Begin a reference transaction.  The reference transaction must
  * be freed by calling ref_transaction_free().