diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectory.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectory.java
index b8c2fb4a5..6f3166a68 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectory.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectory.java
@@ -203,10 +203,10 @@ public void create() throws IOException {
 
 	@Override
 	public void close() {
-		// We have no resources to close.
+		clearReferences();
 	}
 
-	void rescan() {
+	private void clearReferences() {
 		looseRefs.set(RefList.<LooseRef> emptyList());
 		packedRefs.set(PackedRefList.NO_PACKED_REFS);
 	}
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ void rescan() {
 	@Override
 	public void refresh() {
 		super.refresh();
-		rescan();
+		clearReferences();
 	}
 
 	@Override