diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 7d4658aa94..74de289f42 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -1985,6 +1985,13 @@ static int remove_empty_directories(struct strbuf *path)
 	return remove_dir_recursively(path, REMOVE_DIR_EMPTY_ONLY);
 }
 
+static int create_reflock(const char *path, void *cb)
+{
+	struct lock_file *lk = cb;
+
+	return hold_lock_file_for_update(lk, path, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0 ? -1 : 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Locks a ref returning the lock on success and NULL on failure.
  * On failure errno is set to something meaningful.
@@ -2002,7 +2009,6 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 	int last_errno = 0;
 	int mustexist = (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
 	int resolve_flags = RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE;
-	int attempts_remaining = 3;
 	int resolved;
 
 	assert_main_repository(&refs->base, "lock_ref_sha1_basic");
@@ -2067,35 +2073,12 @@ static struct ref_lock *lock_ref_sha1_basic(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 
 	lock->ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
 
- retry:
-	switch (safe_create_leading_directories_const(ref_file.buf)) {
-	case SCLD_OK:
-		break; /* success */
-	case SCLD_VANISHED:
-		if (--attempts_remaining > 0)
-			goto retry;
-		/* fall through */
-	default:
+	if (raceproof_create_file(ref_file.buf, create_reflock, lock->lk)) {
 		last_errno = errno;
-		strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for '%s'",
-			    ref_file.buf);
+		unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
 		goto error_return;
 	}
 
-	if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
-		last_errno = errno;
-		if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0)
-			/*
-			 * Maybe somebody just deleted one of the
-			 * directories leading to ref_file.  Try
-			 * again:
-			 */
-			goto retry;
-		else {
-			unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
-			goto error_return;
-		}
-	}
 	if (verify_lock(lock, old_sha1, mustexist, err)) {
 		last_errno = errno;
 		goto error_return;