diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index 2c4e91d874..e1984d3a00 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -2243,6 +2243,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		info_ref_lock = lock_remote("info/refs", LOCK_TIME);
 		if (info_ref_lock)
 			remote->can_update_info_refs = 1;
+		else {
+			fprintf(stderr, "Error: cannot lock existing info/refs\n");
+			rc = 1;
+			goto cleanup;
+		}
 	}
 	if (remote->has_info_packs)
 		fetch_indices();