@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ int reset_head(struct repository *r, const struct reset_head_opts *opts)
 	unsigned refs_only = opts->flags & RESET_HEAD_REFS_ONLY;
 	unsigned update_orig_head = opts->flags & RESET_HEAD_UPDATE_ORIG_HEAD;
 	unsigned dry_run = opts->flags & RESET_HEAD_DRY_RUN;
+	unsigned skip_ref_updates = opts->flags & RESET_HEAD_SKIP_REF_UPDATES;
 	struct object_id *head = NULL, head_oid;
 	struct tree_desc desc[2] = { { NULL }, { NULL } };
 	struct lock_file lock = LOCK_INIT;

@@ -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 || update_orig_head))
+		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:

@@ -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 {