diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefUpdate.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefUpdate.java
index 33c707033..eca15c032 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefUpdate.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefUpdate.java
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 import org.eclipse.jgit.revwalk.RevObject;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.revwalk.RevWalk;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.transport.PushCertificate;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.util.References;
 
 /**
  * Creates, updates or deletes any reference.
@@ -768,7 +769,8 @@ && getRefDatabase().isNameConflicting(getName())) {
 			}
 
 			oldObj = safeParseOld(walk, oldValue);
-			if (newObj == oldObj && !detachingSymbolicRef) {
+			if (References.isSameObject(newObj, oldObj)
+					&& !detachingSymbolicRef) {
 				return store.execute(Result.NO_CHANGE);
 			}