diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index c1794dc..b3de363 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -341,9 +341,9 @@ static struct ref_cache *get_loose_ref_cache(struct files_ref_store *refs)
 	return refs->loose;
 }
 
-static int files_read_raw_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
-			      const char *refname, struct object_id *oid,
-			      struct strbuf *referent, unsigned int *type)
+static int files_read_raw_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store, const char *refname,
+			      struct object_id *oid, struct strbuf *referent,
+			      unsigned int *type, int *failure_errno)
 {
 	struct files_ref_store *refs =
 		files_downcast(ref_store, REF_STORE_READ, "read_raw_ref");
@@ -354,7 +354,6 @@ static int files_read_raw_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	struct stat st;
 	int fd;
 	int ret = -1;
-	int save_errno;
 	int remaining_retries = 3;
 
 	*type = 0;
@@ -459,10 +458,9 @@ static int files_read_raw_ref(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	ret = parse_loose_ref_contents(buf, oid, referent, type);
 
 out:
-	save_errno = errno;
+	*failure_errno = errno;
 	strbuf_release(&sb_path);
 	strbuf_release(&sb_contents);
-	errno = save_errno;
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -540,6 +538,7 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 	struct strbuf ref_file = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int attempts_remaining = 3;
 	int ret = TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+	int failure_errno;
 
 	assert(err);
 	files_assert_main_repository(refs, "lock_raw_ref");
@@ -610,7 +609,9 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 	if (hold_lock_file_for_update_timeout(
 			    &lock->lk, ref_file.buf, LOCK_NO_DEREF,
 			    get_files_ref_lock_timeout_ms()) < 0) {
-		if (errno == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0) {
+		int myerr = errno;
+		errno = 0;
+		if (myerr == ENOENT && --attempts_remaining > 0) {
 			/*
 			 * Maybe somebody just deleted one of the
 			 * directories leading to ref_file.  Try
@@ -618,7 +619,7 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 			 */
 			goto retry;
 		} else {
-			unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, errno, err);
+			unable_to_lock_message(ref_file.buf, myerr, err);
 			goto error_return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -628,9 +629,9 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 	 * fear that its value will change.
 	 */
 
-	if (files_read_raw_ref(&refs->base, refname,
-			       &lock->old_oid, referent, type)) {
-		if (errno == ENOENT) {
+	if (files_read_raw_ref(&refs->base, refname, &lock->old_oid, referent,
+			       type, &failure_errno)) {
+		if (failure_errno == ENOENT) {
 			if (mustexist) {
 				/* Garden variety missing reference. */
 				strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s'",
@@ -654,7 +655,7 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 				 *   reference named "refs/foo/bar/baz".
 				 */
 			}
-		} else if (errno == EISDIR) {
+		} else if (failure_errno == EISDIR) {
 			/*
 			 * There is a directory in the way. It might have
 			 * contained references that have been deleted. If
@@ -692,13 +693,13 @@ static int lock_raw_ref(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 					goto error_return;
 				}
 			}
-		} else if (errno == EINVAL && (*type & REF_ISBROKEN)) {
+		} else if (failure_errno == EINVAL && (*type & REF_ISBROKEN)) {
 			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': "
 				    "reference broken", refname);
 			goto error_return;
 		} else {
 			strbuf_addf(err, "unable to resolve reference '%s': %s",
-				    refname, strerror(errno));
+				    refname, strerror(failure_errno));
 			goto error_return;
 		}