diff --git a/upload-pack.c b/upload-pack.c
index 7597ba3405..ffb028d623 100644
--- a/upload-pack.c
+++ b/upload-pack.c
@@ -822,9 +822,13 @@ static void receive_needs(void)
 			use_include_tag = 1;
 
 		o = parse_object(sha1_buf);
-		if (!o)
+		if (!o) {
+			packet_write_fmt(1,
+					 "ERR upload-pack: not our ref %s",
+					 sha1_to_hex(sha1_buf));
 			die("git upload-pack: not our ref %s",
 			    sha1_to_hex(sha1_buf));
+		}
 		if (!(o->flags & WANTED)) {
 			o->flags |= WANTED;
 			if (!((allow_unadvertised_object_request & ALLOW_ANY_SHA1) == ALLOW_ANY_SHA1