diff --git a/refspec.c b/refspec.c
index f529092fd6..9a9bf21934 100644
--- a/refspec.c
+++ b/refspec.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ static int parse_refspec(struct refspec_item *item, const char *refspec, int fet
 		/* LHS */
 		if (!*item->src)
 			; /* empty is ok; it means "HEAD" */
-		else if (llen == GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ && !get_oid_hex(item->src, &unused))
+		else if (llen == the_hash_algo->hexsz && !get_oid_hex(item->src, &unused))
 			item->exact_sha1 = 1; /* ok */
 		else if (!check_refname_format(item->src, flags))
 			; /* valid looking ref is ok */