diff --git a/refs/packed-backend.c b/refs/packed-backend.c
index c1c71d183e..6f5a0709fb 100644
--- a/refs/packed-backend.c
+++ b/refs/packed-backend.c
@@ -1263,7 +1263,8 @@ static int write_with_updates(struct packed_ref_store *refs,
 		goto error;
 	}
 
-	if (fsync_component(FSYNC_COMPONENT_REFERENCE, get_tempfile_fd(refs->tempfile)) ||
+	if (fflush(out) ||
+	    fsync_component(FSYNC_COMPONENT_REFERENCE, get_tempfile_fd(refs->tempfile)) ||
 	    close_tempfile_gently(refs->tempfile)) {
 		strbuf_addf(err, "error closing file %s: %s",
 			    get_tempfile_path(refs->tempfile),