diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index f59589d..6521ee8 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -1787,6 +1787,7 @@ static int write_ref_to_lockfile(struct ref_lock *lock,
 	fd = get_lock_file_fd(&lock->lk);
 	if (write_in_full(fd, oid_to_hex(oid), the_hash_algo->hexsz) < 0 ||
 	    write_in_full(fd, &term, 1) < 0 ||
+	    fsync_component(FSYNC_COMPONENT_REFERENCE, get_lock_file_fd(&lock->lk)) < 0 ||
 	    close_ref_gently(lock) < 0) {
 		strbuf_addf(err,
 			    "couldn't write '%s'", get_lock_file_path(&lock->lk));