{
        static struct lock_file head_lock;
        struct ref_lock *lock;
-       struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
        struct strbuf head_path = STRBUF_INIT;
        const char *head_rel;
        int ret;
        strbuf_addf(&head_path, "%s/HEAD", absolute_path(gitdir));
        if (hold_lock_file_for_update(&head_lock, head_path.buf,
                                      LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
+               struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+               unable_to_lock_message(head_path.buf, errno, &err);
                error("%s", err.buf);
                strbuf_release(&err);
                strbuf_release(&head_path);