diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/DeleteRef.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/DeleteRef.java
index a3b16f3157..1fadef645c 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/DeleteRef.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/DeleteRef.java
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ public class DeleteRef {
     u.setExpectedOldObjectId(r.exactRef(ref).getObjectId());
     u.setNewObjectId(ObjectId.zeroId());
     u.setForceUpdate(true);
-    refDeletionValidator.validateRefOperation(ref, identifiedUser.get(), u);
+    refDeletionValidator.validateRefOperation(resource.getName(), identifiedUser.get(), u);
     int remainingLockFailureCalls = MAX_LOCK_FAILURE_CALLS;
     for (; ; ) {
       try {