+/*
+ * Check whether the REF_HAVE_OLD and old_oid values stored in update
+ * are consistent with oid, which is the reference's current value. If
+ * everything is OK, return 0; otherwise, write an error message to
+ * err and return -1.
+ */
+static int check_old_oid(struct ref_update *update, struct object_id *oid,
+ struct strbuf *err)
+{
+ if (!(update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) ||
+ !hashcmp(oid->hash, update->old_sha1))
+ return 0;
+
+ if (is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1))
+ strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+ "reference already exists",
+ original_update_refname(update));
+ else if (is_null_oid(oid))
+ strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+ "reference is missing but expected %s",
+ original_update_refname(update),
+ sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+ else
+ strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+ "is at %s but expected %s",
+ original_update_refname(update),
+ oid_to_hex(oid),
+ sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+
+ return -1;
+}
+