diff --git a/gerrit-sshd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/sshd/commands/LsUserRefs.java b/gerrit-sshd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/sshd/commands/LsUserRefs.java
index 18067495aa..b0ed650375 100644
--- a/gerrit-sshd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/sshd/commands/LsUserRefs.java
+++ b/gerrit-sshd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/sshd/commands/LsUserRefs.java
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ public class LsUserRefs extends SshCommand {
       throw new UnloggedFailure("fatal: Error opening: '"
           + projectControl.getProject().getNameKey());
     } finally {
-      repo.close();
+      if (repo != null) {
+        repo.close();
+      }
     }
   }
 }