return remove_dir_recursively(path, REMOVE_DIR_EMPTY_ONLY);
 }
 
+static int create_reflock(const char *path, void *cb)
+{
+       struct lock_file *lk = cb;
+
+       return hold_lock_file_for_update(lk, path, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0 ? -1 : 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Locks a ref returning the lock on success and NULL on failure.
  * On failure errno is set to something meaningful.
        int last_errno = 0;
        int mustexist = (old_sha1 && !is_null_sha1(old_sha1));
        int resolve_flags = RESOLVE_REF_NO_RECURSE;
-       int attempts_remaining = 3;
        int resolved;
 
        assert_main_repository(&refs->base, "lock_ref_sha1_basic");
 
        lock->ref_name = xstrdup(refname);
 
- retry:
-       switch (safe_create_leading_directories_const(ref_file.buf)) {
-       case SCLD_OK:
-               break; /* success */
-       case SCLD_VANISHED:
-               if (--attempts_remaining > 0)
-                       goto retry;
-               /* fall through */
-       default:
+       if (raceproof_create_file(ref_file.buf, create_reflock, lock->lk)) {
                last_errno = errno;
-               strbuf_addf(err, "unable to create directory for '%s'",
-                           ref_file.buf);
+               unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
                goto error_return;
        }
 
-       if (hold_lock_file_for_update(lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF) < 0) {
-               last_errno = errno;
-               if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0)
-                       /*
-                        * Maybe somebody just deleted one of the
-                        * directories leading to ref_file.  Try
-                        * again:
-                        */
-                       goto retry;
-               else {
-                       unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
-                       goto error_return;
-               }
-       }
        if (verify_lock(lock, old_sha1, mustexist, err)) {
                last_errno = errno;
                goto error_return;