diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsObjDatabase.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsObjDatabase.java
index 42b1a479d..8e9ed5d0d 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsObjDatabase.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsObjDatabase.java
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ public abstract class DfsObjDatabase extends ObjectDatabase {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (newPacks.isEmpty())
+		if (newPacks.isEmpty() && newReftables.isEmpty())
 			return new PackListImpl(NO_PACKS.packs, NO_PACKS.reftables);
 		if (!foundNew) {
 			old.clearDirty();