@@ -112,6 +113,9 @@ int reset_head(struct repository *r, const struct reset_head_opts *opts)
 	if (opts->branch_msg && !opts->branch)
 		BUG("branch reflog message given without a branch");
 
+	if (skip_ref_updates && (opts->branch || refs_only))
+		BUG("asked to perform ref updates and skip them at the same time");

 	if (!refs_only && !dry_run && repo_hold_locked_index(r, &lock, LOCK_REPORT_ON_ERROR) < 0) {
 		ret = -1;
 		goto leave_reset_head;

@@ -196,7 +200,8 @@ int reset_head(struct repository *r, const struct reset_head_opts *opts)
 		goto leave_reset_head;
 	}
 
-	if (oid != &head_oid || update_orig_head || switch_to_branch)
+	if (!skip_ref_updates &&
+	    (oid != &head_oid || update_orig_head || switch_to_branch))
 		ret = update_refs(r, opts, oid, head);
 
 leave_reset_head:

diff --git a/reset.h b/reset.h
index 9f696382c1..cb0700ffa7 100644
--- a/reset.h
+++ b/reset.h

@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ enum reset_head_flags {
 	 * any user-visible state.
 	 */
 	RESET_HEAD_DRY_RUN = (1 << 5),
+
+	/* Skip updating any references, only update the worktree and index. */
+	RESET_HEAD_SKIP_REF_UPDATES = (1 << 6),
 };
 
 struct reset_head_opts {