if (ac == 0) {
                        static const char *fake_av[2];
-                       const char *refname;
 
-                       refname = resolve_ref("HEAD", sha1, 1, NULL);
-                       fake_av[0] = xstrdup(refname);
+                       fake_av[0] = resolve_refdup("HEAD", sha1, 1, NULL);
                        fake_av[1] = NULL;
                        av = fake_av;
                        ac = 1;
                }
        }
 
-       head_p = resolve_ref("HEAD", head_sha1, 1, NULL);
+       head_p = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", head_sha1, 1, NULL);
        if (head_p) {
                head_len = strlen(head_p);
                memcpy(head, head_p, head_len + 1);