diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 35d37ce58b..85e1e1c759 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -3139,6 +3139,7 @@ int ref_transaction_commit(struct ref_transaction *transaction,
 			if (close_ref(update->lock)) {
 				strbuf_addf(err, "couldn't close '%s.lock'",
 					    update->refname);
+				ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
 				goto cleanup;
 			}
 		}