diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/restapi/project/DeleteRef.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/restapi/project/DeleteRef.java
index 6b7987c590..2297ad9ddb 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/restapi/project/DeleteRef.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/restapi/project/DeleteRef.java
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ public class DeleteRef {
   private ReceiveCommand createDeleteCommand(
       ProjectState projectState, Repository r, String refName)
       throws IOException, ResourceConflictException, PermissionBackendException {
-    Ref ref = r.getRefDatabase().getRef(refName);
+    Ref ref = r.getRefDatabase().exactRef(refName);
     ReceiveCommand command;
     if (ref == null) {
       command = new ReceiveCommand(ObjectId.zeroId(), ObjectId.zeroId(), refName);