if (dir->sorted == dir->nr)
                return;
 
-       qsort(dir->entries, dir->nr, sizeof(*dir->entries), ref_entry_cmp);
+       QSORT(dir->entries, dir->nr, ref_entry_cmp);
 
        /* Remove any duplicates: */
        for (i = 0, j = 0; j < dir->nr; j++) {
        int fd;
        int ret = -1;
        int save_errno;
+       int remaining_retries = 3;
 
        *type = 0;
        strbuf_reset(&sb_path);
         * <-> symlink) between the lstat() and reading, then
         * we don't want to report that as an error but rather
         * try again starting with the lstat().
+        *
+        * We'll keep a count of the retries, though, just to avoid
+        * any confusing situation sending us into an infinite loop.
         */
 
+       if (remaining_retries-- <= 0)
+               goto out;
+
        if (lstat(path, &st) < 0) {
                if (errno != ENOENT)
                        goto out;
                        ret = 0;
                        goto out;
                }
+               /*
+                * It doesn't look like a refname; fall through to just
+                * treating it like a non-symlink, and reading whatever it
+                * points to.
+                */
        }
 
        /* Is it a directory? */
         */
        fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
        if (fd < 0) {
-               if (errno == ENOENT)
+               if (errno == ENOENT && !S_ISLNK(st.st_mode))
                        /* inconsistent with lstat; retry */
                        goto stat_ref;
                else