diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
index 2ed230a861..80e422f9d9 100644
--- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
+++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
@@ -388,7 +388,8 @@ __git_refs ()
 		;;
 	*)
 		echo "HEAD"
-		git for-each-ref --format="%(refname:short)" -- "refs/remotes/$dir/" | sed -e "s#^$dir/##"
+		git for-each-ref --format="%(refname:short)" -- \
+			"refs/remotes/$dir/" 2>/dev/null | sed -e "s#^$dir/##"
 		;;
 	esac
 }