git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
        argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options,
                             git_symbolic_ref_usage, 0);
-       if (msg &&!*msg)
+       if (msg && !*msg)
                die("Refusing to perform update with empty message");
 
        if (delete) {
                break;
        case 2:
                if (!strcmp(argv[0], "HEAD") &&
-                   prefixcmp(argv[1], "refs/"))
+                   !starts_with(argv[1], "refs/"))
                        die("Refusing to point HEAD outside of refs/");
                create_symref(argv[0], argv[1], msg);
                break;