{
        struct commit *commit;
        unsigned char sha1[20];
-       char *real_ref, msg[PATH_MAX + 20];
+       char *real_ref;
        struct strbuf ref = STRBUF_INIT;
        int forcing = 0;
        int dont_change_ref = 0;
                die(_("Not a valid branch point: '%s'."), start_name);
        hashcpy(sha1, commit->object.oid.hash);
 
-       if (forcing)
-               snprintf(msg, sizeof msg, "branch: Reset to %s",
-                        start_name);
-       else if (!dont_change_ref)
-               snprintf(msg, sizeof msg, "branch: Created from %s",
-                        start_name);
-
        if (reflog)
                log_all_ref_updates = LOG_REFS_NORMAL;
 
        if (!dont_change_ref) {
                struct ref_transaction *transaction;
                struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
+               char *msg;
+
+               if (forcing)
+                       msg = xstrfmt("branch: Reset to %s", start_name);
+               else
+                       msg = xstrfmt("branch: Created from %s", start_name);
 
                transaction = ref_transaction_begin(&err);
                if (!transaction ||
                        die("%s", err.buf);
                ref_transaction_free(transaction);
                strbuf_release(&err);
+               free(msg);
        }
 
        if (real_ref && track)