diff --git a/bisect.c b/bisect.c
index 135f94ba097ae07b5984d820e02eb50400271024..4406fc44cf9bb0b3bdefe1a7f31f91d3b379eed3 100644
--- a/bisect.c
+++ b/bisect.c
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ void find_bisection(struct commit_list **commit_list, int *reaches,
 	clear_commit_weight(&commit_weight);
 }
 
-static int register_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int register_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	struct strbuf good_prefix = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -1170,6 +1170,7 @@ int estimate_bisect_steps(int all)
 }
 
 static int mark_for_removal(const char *refname,
+			    const char *referent UNUSED,
 			    const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 			    int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/bisect.c b/builtin/bisect.c
index dabce9b542b1e001daea083b6e2bff4d5cf9d460..453a6cccd70bca8218d93207dd32b00d5e5026b9 100644
--- a/builtin/bisect.c
+++ b/builtin/bisect.c
@@ -356,6 +356,7 @@ static int check_and_set_terms(struct bisect_terms *terms, const char *cmd)
 }
 
 static int inc_nr(const char *refname UNUSED,
+		  const char *referent UNUSED,
 		  const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 		  int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
@@ -545,7 +546,7 @@ static int bisect_append_log_quoted(const char **argv)
 	return res;
 }
 
-static int add_bisect_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int add_bisect_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flags UNUSED, void *cb)
 {
 	struct add_bisect_ref_data *data = cb;
@@ -1162,6 +1163,7 @@ static int bisect_visualize(struct bisect_terms *terms, int argc,
 }
 
 static int get_first_good(const char *refname UNUSED,
+			  const char *referent UNUSED,
 			  const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 3cf44b4683a9ba48abaaa32ef20bc127920865bd..562778885e15b92cc8b8d104c1a3126dcd52ba39 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 		report_tracking(new_branch_info);
 }
 
-static int add_pending_uninteresting_ref(const char *refname,
+static int add_pending_uninteresting_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 					 const struct object_id *oid,
 					 int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/describe.c b/builtin/describe.c
index e5287eddf2dbaace72f208a1a652bd298f6bc790..d95a9109eed25c9762a986b5b85855da81e65f61 100644
--- a/builtin/describe.c
+++ b/builtin/describe.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ static void add_to_known_names(const char *path,
 	}
 }
 
-static int get_name(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int get_name(const char *path, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		    int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	int is_tag = 0;
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 693f02b95802bc25a825bf27477c29d15a0b76d8..c297569a473f133cf7ba8e23f112fd1b0de3fa92 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ static struct refname_hash_entry *refname_hash_add(struct hashmap *map,
 	return ent;
 }
 
-static int add_one_refname(const char *refname,
+static int add_one_refname(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 			   const struct object_id *oid,
 			   int flag UNUSED, void *cbdata)
 {
@@ -1464,6 +1464,7 @@ static void set_option(struct transport *transport, const char *name, const char
 
 
 static int add_oid(const char *refname UNUSED,
+		   const char *referent UNUSED,
 		   const struct object_id *oid,
 		   int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/fsck.c b/builtin/fsck.c
index d13a226c2ed86bf87e3d637060e2940f69ac602e..ef6ee1268bdcfcee4b81d1fdff21e6d8a818ee54 100644
--- a/builtin/fsck.c
+++ b/builtin/fsck.c
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ static int fsck_handle_reflog(const char *logname, void *cb_data)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int fsck_handle_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int fsck_handle_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			   int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	struct object *obj;
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ static void get_default_heads(void)
 		strbuf_worktree_ref(wt, &ref, "HEAD");
 		fsck_head_link(ref.buf, &head_points_at, &head_oid);
 		if (head_points_at && !is_null_oid(&head_oid))
-			fsck_handle_ref(ref.buf, &head_oid, 0, NULL);
+			fsck_handle_ref(ref.buf, NULL, &head_oid, 0, NULL);
 		strbuf_release(&ref);
 
 		if (include_reflogs)
diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index 72bac2554fc4b9c26140cdfc10100db6b5dd6774..65be7c31b33e84a7f2d88e0efe8f761a8000e02f 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -836,6 +836,7 @@ struct cg_auto_data {
 };
 
 static int dfs_on_ref(const char *refname UNUSED,
+		      const char *referent UNUSED,
 		      const struct object_id *oid,
 		      int flags UNUSED,
 		      void *cb_data)
diff --git a/builtin/name-rev.c b/builtin/name-rev.c
index 70e9ec4e477b8e5edc0839184cc4dafd66b9a958..52016f1cf7d0e031de3e677df6b86928b34b271f 100644
--- a/builtin/name-rev.c
+++ b/builtin/name-rev.c
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ static int cmp_by_tag_and_age(const void *a_, const void *b_)
 	return a->taggerdate != b->taggerdate;
 }
 
-static int name_ref(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int name_ref(const char *path, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		    int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct object *o = parse_object(the_repository, oid);
diff --git a/builtin/pack-objects.c b/builtin/pack-objects.c
index f395488971f9c51ea8a5b3a5ef657df1ca532d99..c481feadbfa738698c19de25a3c3a5dd1c1b34c1 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-objects.c
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ static enum write_one_status write_one(struct hashfile *f,
 	return WRITE_ONE_WRITTEN;
 }
 
-static int mark_tagged(const char *path UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int mark_tagged(const char *path UNUSED, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		       int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	struct object_id peeled;
@@ -3129,7 +3129,7 @@ static void add_tag_chain(const struct object_id *oid)
 	}
 }
 
-static int add_ref_tag(const char *tag UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int add_ref_tag(const char *tag UNUSED, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		       int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	struct object_id peeled;
@@ -4076,6 +4076,7 @@ static void record_recent_commit(struct commit *commit, void *data UNUSED)
 }
 
 static int mark_bitmap_preferred_tip(const char *refname,
+				     const char *referent UNUSED,
 				     const struct object_id *oid,
 				     int flags UNUSED,
 				     void *data UNUSED)
diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index 339524ae2a891ccc6d691843062720d95ee2613d..6e0f462efbb9145fb7be1e59a9451df26b41a870 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ static void show_ref(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid)
 	}
 }
 
-static int show_ref_cb(const char *path_full, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int show_ref_cb(const char *path_full, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		       int flag UNUSED, void *data)
 {
 	struct oidset *seen = data;
diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 08292498bdebcafb603f140933166d8b1af12b6f..9a3db1b0f13d0119a7be1a80e7b14639752b0758 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -543,6 +543,7 @@ struct branches_for_remote {
 };
 
 static int add_branch_for_removal(const char *refname,
+				  const char *referent UNUSED,
 				  const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 				  int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
@@ -585,7 +586,7 @@ struct rename_info {
 	uint32_t symrefs_nr;
 };
 
-static int read_remote_branches(const char *refname,
+static int read_remote_branches(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 				const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 				int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
@@ -971,6 +972,7 @@ static void free_remote_ref_states(struct ref_states *states)
 }
 
 static int append_ref_to_tracked_list(const char *refname,
+				      const char *referent UNUSED,
 				      const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 				      int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/repack.c b/builtin/repack.c
index f0317fa94ad46c9615d8cbe1ced7c464c33be5aa..d9ea6cecbf9fdc1667e7366a8de575b069eaa536 100644
--- a/builtin/repack.c
+++ b/builtin/repack.c
@@ -667,6 +667,7 @@ struct midx_snapshot_ref_data {
 };
 
 static int midx_snapshot_ref_one(const char *refname UNUSED,
+				 const char *referent UNUSED,
 				 const struct object_id *oid,
 				 int flag UNUSED, void *_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/replace.c b/builtin/replace.c
index 1ef833c07f5211cfc51291b950e8f73cd6b04fa8..34cc4672bc11a2aa94d0d387d175b044e7ab5fb0 100644
--- a/builtin/replace.c
+++ b/builtin/replace.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ struct show_data {
 };
 
 static int show_reference(const char *refname,
+			  const char *referent UNUSED,
 			  const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 2e64f5bda70bc2e41a7477d919548a13ba68bd3f..a7084ca157fe7b39c766dec5024acc2a2f1dba68 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ static int show_default(void)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int show_reference(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int show_reference(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	if (ref_excluded(&ref_excludes, refname))
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ static int show_reference(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int anti_reference(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int anti_reference(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	show_rev(REVERSED, oid, refname);
diff --git a/builtin/show-branch.c b/builtin/show-branch.c
index d72f4cb98deead79414028120a9de844a35aecaa..3427c1572e5d6ba64f8e50e5ff16a9f3423b2a88 100644
--- a/builtin/show-branch.c
+++ b/builtin/show-branch.c
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ static int append_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int append_head_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int append_head_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			   int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	struct object_id tmp;
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ static int append_head_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 	return append_ref(refname + ofs, oid, 0);
 }
 
-static int append_remote_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int append_remote_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			     int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	struct object_id tmp;
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ static int append_tag_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 static const char *match_ref_pattern = NULL;
 static int match_ref_slash = 0;
 
-static int append_matching_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int append_matching_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			       int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
 	/* we want to allow pattern hold/<asterisk> to show all
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ static int append_matching_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 	if (wildmatch(match_ref_pattern, tail, 0))
 		return 0;
 	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/heads/"))
-		return append_head_ref(refname, oid, flag, cb_data);
+		return append_head_ref(refname, NULL, oid, flag, cb_data);
 	if (starts_with(refname, "refs/tags/"))
 		return append_tag_ref(refname, oid, flag, cb_data);
 	return append_ref(refname, oid, 0);
diff --git a/builtin/show-ref.c b/builtin/show-ref.c
index 839a5c29f31439e104ef99daf3460709e3e45909..04e0db707c6636bda033214d61cfca27648828c2 100644
--- a/builtin/show-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/show-ref.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ struct show_ref_data {
 	int show_head;
 };
 
-static int show_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int show_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		    int flag UNUSED, void *cbdata)
 {
 	struct show_ref_data *data = cbdata;
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ static int show_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 }
 
 static int add_existing(const char *refname,
+			const char *referent UNUSED,
 			const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 			int flag UNUSED, void *cbdata)
 {
diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 880ab4456eee5fb0317f8d4cc9753800aee7976f..1cdcc465b1c28ca899681c072d15e6b76b37fefc 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@ static void print_status(unsigned int flags, char state, const char *path,
 }
 
 static int handle_submodule_head_ref(const char *refname UNUSED,
+				     const char *referent UNUSED,
 				     const struct object_id *oid,
 				     int flags UNUSED,
 				     void *cb_data)
diff --git a/builtin/worktree.c b/builtin/worktree.c
index 1d51e54fcdc189ef6457991f8f47016c7e56a9e0..2e16218c65531968bc8eb4ae35a3145858b5f36f 100644
--- a/builtin/worktree.c
+++ b/builtin/worktree.c
@@ -626,6 +626,7 @@ static void print_preparing_worktree_line(int detach,
  * Returns 0 on failure and non-zero on success.
  */
 static int first_valid_ref(const char *refname UNUSED,
+			   const char *referent UNUSED,
 			   const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 			   int flags UNUSED,
 			   void *cb_data UNUSED)
diff --git a/commit-graph.c b/commit-graph.c
index 79b0e72cc42cad5e5feeecebd54fd9f9b6cff14e..aa6e08eb39cd5fc7b1bc0d5b171641d59cd77e72 100644
--- a/commit-graph.c
+++ b/commit-graph.c
@@ -1847,6 +1847,7 @@ struct refs_cb_data {
 };
 
 static int add_ref_to_set(const char *refname UNUSED,
+			  const char *referent UNUSED,
 			  const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/delta-islands.c b/delta-islands.c
index ffe1ca28144fead287ecb639378a351a30b6027a..844355125935ad64614f1cabbfd15a8e58ce185b 100644
--- a/delta-islands.c
+++ b/delta-islands.c
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ static void add_ref_to_island(kh_str_t *remote_islands, const char *island_name,
 	rl->hash += sha_core;
 }
 
-static int find_island_for_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int find_island_for_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			       int flags UNUSED, void *cb)
 {
 	struct island_load_data *ild = cb;
diff --git a/fetch-pack.c b/fetch-pack.c
index 732511604b1a6c72f2df5dd8413b1473715c3826..58b4581ad80b15a9feda3f3dfcbd3548723cd113 100644
--- a/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/fetch-pack.c
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ static int rev_list_insert_ref(struct fetch_negotiator *negotiator,
 }
 
 static int rev_list_insert_ref_oid(const char *refname UNUSED,
+				   const char *referent UNUSED,
 				   const struct object_id *oid,
 				   int flag UNUSED,
 				   void *cb_data)
@@ -610,6 +611,7 @@ static int mark_complete(const struct object_id *oid)
 }
 
 static int mark_complete_oid(const char *refname UNUSED,
+			     const char *referent UNUSED,
 			     const struct object_id *oid,
 			     int flag UNUSED,
 			     void *cb_data UNUSED)
diff --git a/help.c b/help.c
index a6b4d3b1ebdac0d4d1ce50daa667405b480ac596..c03863f2265f7bbaba72fc26b377a677683ea58d 100644
--- a/help.c
+++ b/help.c
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ struct similar_ref_cb {
 	struct string_list *similar_refs;
 };
 
-static int append_similar_ref(const char *refname,
+static int append_similar_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 			      const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 			      int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/http-backend.c b/http-backend.c
index 461424972b6976e7f40f050a272f49bee35637eb..79ce097359b19db55579808f1f43e103738b0abc 100644
--- a/http-backend.c
+++ b/http-backend.c
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ static void run_service(const char **argv, int buffer_input)
 		exit(1);
 }
 
-static int show_text_ref(const char *name, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int show_text_ref(const char *name, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			 int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
 	const char *name_nons = strip_namespace(name);
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ static void get_info_refs(struct strbuf *hdr, char *arg UNUSED)
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
 
-static int show_head_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int show_head_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			 int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf *buf = cb_data;
diff --git a/log-tree.c b/log-tree.c
index 52feec4356ab12e206dcf79d313c65c07c49f75f..40306434556bff021e4591bdfde0b73e3107a0ed 100644
--- a/log-tree.c
+++ b/log-tree.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ static int ref_filter_match(const char *refname,
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static int add_ref_decoration(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int add_ref_decoration(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			      int flags UNUSED,
 			      void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/ls-refs.c b/ls-refs.c
index 2dd925b43d067aa95b51ccf9d38d54174fea63c6..c824aea7146a3e825c54b62bc7a77da82365940f 100644
--- a/ls-refs.c
+++ b/ls-refs.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ struct ls_refs_data {
 	unsigned unborn : 1;
 };
 
-static int send_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int send_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		    int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct ls_refs_data *data = cb_data;
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ static void send_possibly_unborn_head(struct ls_refs_data *data)
 	oid_is_null = is_null_oid(&oid);
 	if (!oid_is_null ||
 	    (data->unborn && data->symrefs && (flag & REF_ISSYMREF)))
-		send_ref(namespaced.buf, oid_is_null ? NULL : &oid, flag, data);
+		send_ref(namespaced.buf, NULL, oid_is_null ? NULL : &oid, flag, data);
 	strbuf_release(&namespaced);
 }
 
diff --git a/midx-write.c b/midx-write.c
index 478b42e72099b5413bda6673df8abaf86a158979..56d1717f9f1ad826ac1591df830f20589e4d0cd8 100644
--- a/midx-write.c
+++ b/midx-write.c
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ static void prepare_midx_packing_data(struct packing_data *pdata,
 	trace2_region_leave("midx", "prepare_midx_packing_data", the_repository);
 }
 
-static int add_ref_to_pending(const char *refname,
+static int add_ref_to_pending(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 			      const struct object_id *oid,
 			      int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/negotiator/default.c b/negotiator/default.c
index e3fa5c3324933dd90b4622f32408b6469d9bf458..c479da9b09157077c0a8a4548c95fef35c95c0d4 100644
--- a/negotiator/default.c
+++ b/negotiator/default.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static void rev_list_push(struct negotiation_state *ns,
 	}
 }
 
-static int clear_marks(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int clear_marks(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		       int flag UNUSED,
 		       void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
diff --git a/negotiator/skipping.c b/negotiator/skipping.c
index f109928ad0b316c4a00f2004c61468442d246a5e..f65d47858b422e4f842f0eb3db76ede8ead9716b 100644
--- a/negotiator/skipping.c
+++ b/negotiator/skipping.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static struct entry *rev_list_push(struct data *data, struct commit *commit, int
 	return entry;
 }
 
-static int clear_marks(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int clear_marks(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		       int flag UNUSED,
 		       void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
diff --git a/notes.c b/notes.c
index 1ba6412aae80a0a555a7d27247d44fc0ca76e858..da42df282d5b6c13c19584901ab48516ab91bbe2 100644
--- a/notes.c
+++ b/notes.c
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ int combine_notes_cat_sort_uniq(struct object_id *cur_oid,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int string_list_add_one_ref(const char *refname,
+static int string_list_add_one_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 				   const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 				   int flag UNUSED, void *cb)
 {
diff --git a/object-name.c b/object-name.c
index 527b853ac456cb1ba243106a3a165eec6d247cf8..7cca43020f271d871b9712a3ddff7525cd970156 100644
--- a/object-name.c
+++ b/object-name.c
@@ -1365,7 +1365,7 @@ struct handle_one_ref_cb {
 	struct commit_list **list;
 };
 
-static int handle_one_ref(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int handle_one_ref(const char *path, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED,
 			  void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/pseudo-merge.c b/pseudo-merge.c
index f0fde13c47133d7a1761aa6c9b300a947ff51c79..77a83b9c5ce1814d5c2236d1aaf602176c242f97 100644
--- a/pseudo-merge.c
+++ b/pseudo-merge.c
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ void load_pseudo_merges_from_config(struct string_list *list)
 }
 
 static int find_pseudo_merge_group_for_ref(const char *refname,
+					   const char *referent UNUSED,
 					   const struct object_id *oid,
 					   int flags UNUSED,
 					   void *_data)
diff --git a/reachable.c b/reachable.c
index 46613a6bb6f536d0ac999ed0120011961f88dd7e..3e9b3dd0a46cb410b8f032784115c78084c5dbd9 100644
--- a/reachable.c
+++ b/reachable.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static void add_rebase_files(struct rev_info *revs)
 	free_worktrees(worktrees);
 }
 
-static int add_one_ref(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int add_one_ref(const char *path, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		       int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct rev_info *revs = (struct rev_info *)cb_data;
diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index 8c5e673fc0a521425c1035ce3f31575c185c34ef..4d1f3ff3d23095b531d3d9a9f916a5684c606459 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -2343,6 +2343,12 @@ static int populate_value(struct ref_array_item *ref, struct strbuf *err)
 
 	CALLOC_ARRAY(ref->value, used_atom_cnt);
 
+	/**
+	 * NEEDSWORK: The following code might be unncessary if all codepaths
+	 * that call populate_value() populates the symref member of ref_array_item
+	 * like in apply_ref_filter(). Currently pretty_print_ref() is the only codepath
+	 * that calls populate_value() without first populating symref.
+	 */
 	if (need_symref && (ref->flag & REF_ISSYMREF) && !ref->symref) {
 		ref->symref = refs_resolve_refdup(get_main_ref_store(the_repository),
 						  ref->refname,
@@ -2783,7 +2789,7 @@ static int filter_ref_kind(struct ref_filter *filter, const char *refname)
 	return ref_kind_from_refname(refname);
 }
 
-static struct ref_array_item *apply_ref_filter(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static struct ref_array_item *apply_ref_filter(const char *refname, const char *referent, const struct object_id *oid,
 			    int flag, struct ref_filter *filter)
 {
 	struct ref_array_item *ref;
@@ -2852,6 +2858,7 @@ static struct ref_array_item *apply_ref_filter(const char *refname, const struct
 	ref->commit = commit;
 	ref->flag = flag;
 	ref->kind = kind;
+	ref->symref = xstrdup_or_null(referent);
 
 	return ref;
 }
@@ -2865,12 +2872,12 @@ struct ref_filter_cbdata {
  * A call-back given to for_each_ref().  Filter refs and keep them for
  * later object processing.
  */
-static int filter_one(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid, int flag, void *cb_data)
+static int filter_one(const char *refname, const char *referent, const struct object_id *oid, int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct ref_filter_cbdata *ref_cbdata = cb_data;
 	struct ref_array_item *ref;
 
-	ref = apply_ref_filter(refname, oid, flag, ref_cbdata->filter);
+	ref = apply_ref_filter(refname, referent, oid, flag, ref_cbdata->filter);
 	if (ref)
 		ref_array_append(ref_cbdata->array, ref);
 
@@ -2900,13 +2907,13 @@ struct ref_filter_and_format_cbdata {
 	} internal;
 };
 
-static int filter_and_format_one(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid, int flag, void *cb_data)
+static int filter_and_format_one(const char *refname, const char *referent, const struct object_id *oid, int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct ref_filter_and_format_cbdata *ref_cbdata = cb_data;
 	struct ref_array_item *ref;
 	struct strbuf output = STRBUF_INIT, err = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	ref = apply_ref_filter(refname, oid, flag, ref_cbdata->filter);
+	ref = apply_ref_filter(refname, referent, oid, flag, ref_cbdata->filter);
 	if (!ref)
 		return 0;
 
diff --git a/reflog.c b/reflog.c
index 5ca944529b30ccaf30d527789478349d915f10c1..d592c1cfb56f9c60496ab89f0fe6885aa2681c9e 100644
--- a/reflog.c
+++ b/reflog.c
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ int should_expire_reflog_ent_verbose(struct object_id *ooid,
 }
 
 static int push_tip_to_list(const char *refname UNUSED,
+			    const char *referent UNUSED,
 			    const struct object_id *oid,
 			    int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index bb90a18875815a1388d930a65d0a109426ed728b..0a5c12cf16bbb8366e5b6b5141550529f1c86b0c 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ int refs_ref_exists(struct ref_store *refs, const char *refname)
 					 NULL, NULL);
 }
 
-static int for_each_filter_refs(const char *refname,
+static int for_each_filter_refs(const char *refname, const char *referent,
 				const struct object_id *oid,
 				int flags, void *data)
 {
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ static int for_each_filter_refs(const char *refname,
 		return 0;
 	if (filter->prefix)
 		skip_prefix(refname, filter->prefix, &refname);
-	return filter->fn(refname, oid, flags, filter->cb_data);
+	return filter->fn(refname, referent, oid, flags, filter->cb_data);
 }
 
 struct warn_if_dangling_data {
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ struct warn_if_dangling_data {
 	const char *msg_fmt;
 };
 
-static int warn_if_dangling_symref(const char *refname,
+static int warn_if_dangling_symref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 				   const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 				   int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ int refs_head_ref_namespaced(struct ref_store *refs, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_da
 
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "%sHEAD", get_git_namespace());
 	if (!refs_read_ref_full(refs, buf.buf, RESOLVE_REF_READING, &oid, &flag))
-		ret = fn(buf.buf, &oid, flag, cb_data);
+		ret = fn(buf.buf, NULL, &oid, flag, cb_data);
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 
 	return ret;
@@ -1547,7 +1547,7 @@ int refs_head_ref(struct ref_store *refs, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 
 	if (refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(refs, "HEAD", RESOLVE_REF_READING,
 				    &oid, &flag))
-		return fn("HEAD", &oid, flag, cb_data);
+		return fn("HEAD", NULL, &oid, flag, cb_data);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -2387,7 +2387,7 @@ struct do_for_each_reflog_help {
 	void *cb_data;
 };
 
-static int do_for_each_reflog_helper(const char *refname,
+static int do_for_each_reflog_helper(const char *refname, const char *referent,
 				     const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 				     int flags,
 				     void *cb_data)
@@ -2593,7 +2593,7 @@ struct migration_data {
 	struct strbuf *errbuf;
 };
 
-static int migrate_one_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int migrate_one_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			   int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct migration_data *data = cb_data;
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 0ecba21b4a77a811e0dfcc7b0c9a327c42206333..158e0a12197a5667464e96d9c66660ce7a5c96f9 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ struct ref_transaction;
  * arguments is only guaranteed to be valid for the duration of a
  * single callback invocation.
  */
-typedef int each_ref_fn(const char *refname,
+typedef int each_ref_fn(const char *refname, const char *referent,
 			const struct object_id *oid, int flags, void *cb_data);
 
 /*
diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index aa52d9be7c77ade85967f019cf94121e7903ef20..6ca88e5eef311999002ac78ed3edebf04002848d 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -245,9 +245,11 @@ static void loose_fill_ref_dir_regular_file(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
 	int flag;
-
-	if (!refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(&refs->base, refname, RESOLVE_REF_READING,
-				     &oid, &flag)) {
+	const char *referent = refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(&refs->base,
+						       refname,
+						       RESOLVE_REF_READING,
+						       &oid, &flag);
+	if (!referent) {
 		oidclr(&oid, the_repository->hash_algo);
 		flag |= REF_ISBROKEN;
 	} else if (is_null_oid(&oid)) {
@@ -268,7 +270,11 @@ static void loose_fill_ref_dir_regular_file(struct files_ref_store *refs,
 		oidclr(&oid, the_repository->hash_algo);
 		flag |= REF_BAD_NAME | REF_ISBROKEN;
 	}
-	add_entry_to_dir(dir, create_ref_entry(refname, &oid, flag));
+
+	if (!(flag & REF_ISSYMREF))
+		referent = NULL;
+
+	add_entry_to_dir(dir, create_ref_entry(refname, referent, &oid, flag));
 }
 
 /*
@@ -886,6 +892,8 @@ static int files_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 		iter->base.refname = iter->iter0->refname;
 		iter->base.oid = iter->iter0->oid;
 		iter->base.flags = iter->iter0->flags;
+		iter->base.referent = iter->iter0->referent;
+
 		return ITER_OK;
 	}
 
@@ -3035,7 +3043,7 @@ static int files_transaction_abort(struct ref_store *ref_store,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int ref_present(const char *refname,
+static int ref_present(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 		       const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 		       int flags UNUSED,
 		       void *cb_data)
diff --git a/refs/iterator.c b/refs/iterator.c
index d355ebf0d597740e867daf5ddd1bf073622b3aba..8e999d81fc638fc52b470819a79ece7ee08842cb 100644
--- a/refs/iterator.c
+++ b/refs/iterator.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ void base_ref_iterator_init(struct ref_iterator *iter,
 {
 	iter->vtable = vtable;
 	iter->refname = NULL;
+	iter->referent = NULL;
 	iter->oid = NULL;
 	iter->flags = 0;
 }
@@ -199,6 +200,7 @@ static int merge_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 		}
 
 		if (selection & ITER_YIELD_CURRENT) {
+			iter->base.referent = (*iter->current)->referent;
 			iter->base.refname = (*iter->current)->refname;
 			iter->base.oid = (*iter->current)->oid;
 			iter->base.flags = (*iter->current)->flags;
@@ -448,7 +450,7 @@ int do_for_each_ref_iterator(struct ref_iterator *iter,
 
 	current_ref_iter = iter;
 	while ((ok = ref_iterator_advance(iter)) == ITER_OK) {
-		retval = fn(iter->refname, iter->oid, iter->flags, cb_data);
+		retval = fn(iter->refname, iter->referent, iter->oid, iter->flags, cb_data);
 		if (retval) {
 			/*
 			 * If ref_iterator_abort() returns ITER_ERROR,
diff --git a/refs/ref-cache.c b/refs/ref-cache.c
index 4ce519bbc852545874eee6271f51e07eed6c0b64..bf80a62af1793f0f5da4f5a5fa82c0bf25ca588d 100644
--- a/refs/ref-cache.c
+++ b/refs/ref-cache.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "refs-internal.h"
 #include "ref-cache.h"
 #include "../iterator.h"
+#include "../strbuf.h"
 
 void add_entry_to_dir(struct ref_dir *dir, struct ref_entry *entry)
 {
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ struct ref_dir *get_ref_dir(struct ref_entry *entry)
 }
 
 struct ref_entry *create_ref_entry(const char *refname,
+				   const char *referent,
 				   const struct object_id *oid, int flag)
 {
 	struct ref_entry *ref;
@@ -41,6 +43,8 @@ struct ref_entry *create_ref_entry(const char *refname,
 	FLEX_ALLOC_STR(ref, name, refname);
 	oidcpy(&ref->u.value.oid, oid);
 	ref->flag = flag;
+	ref->u.value.referent = xstrdup_or_null(referent);
+
 	return ref;
 }
 
@@ -66,6 +70,7 @@ static void free_ref_entry(struct ref_entry *entry)
 		 */
 		clear_ref_dir(&entry->u.subdir);
 	}
+	free(entry->u.value.referent);
 	free(entry);
 }
 
@@ -431,6 +436,7 @@ static int cache_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 			level->index = -1;
 		} else {
 			iter->base.refname = entry->name;
+			iter->base.referent = entry->u.value.referent;
 			iter->base.oid = &entry->u.value.oid;
 			iter->base.flags = entry->flag;
 			return ITER_OK;
diff --git a/refs/ref-cache.h b/refs/ref-cache.h
index 31ebe24f6cf09a10c85cd48d6d1ee849d1f83233..5f04e518c3796d685b0058a170cd5ffd95c233d8 100644
--- a/refs/ref-cache.h
+++ b/refs/ref-cache.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ struct ref_value {
 	 * referred to by the last reference in the symlink chain.
 	 */
 	struct object_id oid;
+	char *referent;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -173,6 +174,7 @@ struct ref_entry *create_dir_entry(struct ref_cache *cache,
 				   const char *dirname, size_t len);
 
 struct ref_entry *create_ref_entry(const char *refname,
+				   const char *referent,
 				   const struct object_id *oid, int flag);
 
 /*
diff --git a/refs/refs-internal.h b/refs/refs-internal.h
index fa975d69aaabad05ad5aff620f8151039da23937..117ec233848c2de5bcc7693f63f93d2aceb3971b 100644
--- a/refs/refs-internal.h
+++ b/refs/refs-internal.h
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ enum do_for_each_ref_flags {
 struct ref_iterator {
 	struct ref_iterator_vtable *vtable;
 	const char *refname;
+	const char *referent;
 	const struct object_id *oid;
 	unsigned int flags;
 };
diff --git a/refs/reftable-backend.c b/refs/reftable-backend.c
index fbe74c239d336bf7404be6f78148a60a450eb637..50a072b97b027aafda39672796ebb59490016d00 100644
--- a/refs/reftable-backend.c
+++ b/refs/reftable-backend.c
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ static int reftable_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 	struct reftable_ref_iterator *iter =
 		(struct reftable_ref_iterator *)ref_iterator;
 	struct reftable_ref_store *refs = iter->refs;
+	const char *referent = NULL;
 
 	while (!iter->err) {
 		int flags = 0;
@@ -494,8 +495,12 @@ static int reftable_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 				the_repository->hash_algo);
 			break;
 		case REFTABLE_REF_SYMREF:
-			if (!refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(&iter->refs->base, iter->ref.refname,
-						     RESOLVE_REF_READING, &iter->oid, &flags))
+			referent = refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(&iter->refs->base,
+								      iter->ref.refname,
+								      RESOLVE_REF_READING,
+								      &iter->oid,
+								      &flags);
+			if (!referent)
 				oidclr(&iter->oid, the_repository->hash_algo);
 			break;
 		default:
@@ -523,6 +528,7 @@ static int reftable_ref_iterator_advance(struct ref_iterator *ref_iterator)
 				continue;
 
 		iter->base.refname = iter->ref.refname;
+		iter->base.referent = referent;
 		iter->base.oid = &iter->oid;
 		iter->base.flags = flags;
 
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index f43cf5e7a4d2432113400c28a45e58cc2230b36b..4a1269a47ab3d635c46f130a0dac45f7b3908313 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -2354,7 +2354,7 @@ int format_tracking_info(struct branch *branch, struct strbuf *sb,
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static int one_local_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int one_local_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			 int flag UNUSED,
 			 void *cb_data)
 {
@@ -2439,7 +2439,7 @@ struct stale_heads_info {
 	struct refspec *rs;
 };
 
-static int get_stale_heads_cb(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int get_stale_heads_cb(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			      int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct stale_heads_info *info = cb_data;
diff --git a/replace-object.c b/replace-object.c
index 59252d565eff65d057213c603373d116e8f43d61..9a3cdd809a9b484312940f16c9178a90b5e3b94a 100644
--- a/replace-object.c
+++ b/replace-object.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "commit.h"
 
 static int register_replace_ref(const char *refname,
+				const char *referent UNUSED,
 				const struct object_id *oid,
 				int flag UNUSED,
 				void *cb_data)
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 1c0192f522507ed75002eebcbf8b574528f1d837..6b33bd814f7d937cd6210e3c85bcb36a6845e2e1 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -1648,7 +1648,7 @@ struct all_refs_cb {
 	struct worktree *wt;
 };
 
-static int handle_one_ref(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int handle_one_ref(const char *path, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED,
 			  void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/server-info.c b/server-info.c
index f61296a60d0dcc06679d3a16cc99c7ca4247f25d..1508fa6f825ec7559ffca9e184c23c9fcbf914ad 100644
--- a/server-info.c
+++ b/server-info.c
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ static int update_info_file(char *path,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int add_info_ref(const char *path, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int add_info_ref(const char *path, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 			int flag UNUSED,
 			void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/shallow.c b/shallow.c
index 31a6ca40fe2287e37092dc2251d1f6b8515455e0..b8cd051e3b6a7023a8467fc6b1b290073a32c8e4 100644
--- a/shallow.c
+++ b/shallow.c
@@ -612,6 +612,7 @@ static void paint_down(struct paint_info *info, const struct object_id *oid,
 }
 
 static int mark_uninteresting(const char *refname UNUSED,
+			      const char *referent UNUSED,
 			      const struct object_id *oid,
 			      int flags UNUSED,
 			      void *cb_data UNUSED)
@@ -727,6 +728,7 @@ struct commit_array {
 };
 
 static int add_ref(const char *refname UNUSED,
+		  const char *referent UNUSED,
 		   const struct object_id *oid,
 		   int flags UNUSED,
 		   void *cb_data)
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index ab99a30253083bc9f4d53120ed27b53d1caca2a1..7c0f5db861d3572960f6f4b2bf69b22ec00038a5 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -953,6 +953,7 @@ static void free_submodules_data(struct string_list *submodules)
 }
 
 static int has_remote(const char *refname UNUSED,
+		      const char *referent UNUSED,
 		      const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 		      int flags UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
@@ -1273,6 +1274,7 @@ int push_unpushed_submodules(struct repository *r,
 }
 
 static int append_oid_to_array(const char *ref UNUSED,
+			       const char *referent UNUSED,
 			       const struct object_id *oid,
 			       int flags UNUSED, void *data)
 {
diff --git a/t/helper/test-ref-store.c b/t/helper/test-ref-store.c
index 637b8b294e90df8ec3caf1639c73543d1f01074f..65346dee551ccd781a88786f0c8465f60b286cde 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-ref-store.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-ref-store.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ static int cmd_rename_ref(struct ref_store *refs, const char **argv)
 	return refs_rename_ref(refs, oldref, newref, logmsg);
 }
 
-static int each_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int each_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		    int flags, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
 	printf("%s %s 0x%x\n", oid_to_hex(oid), refname, flags);
diff --git a/upload-pack.c b/upload-pack.c
index 0052c6a4dce1fad808a5bdd2c92c0827c5453d18..f03ba3e98be736ca1b97ab0854ac45c915be683f 100644
--- a/upload-pack.c
+++ b/upload-pack.c
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ static void send_unshallow(struct upload_pack_data *data)
 	}
 }
 
-static int check_ref(const char *refname_full, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int check_ref(const char *refname_full, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		     int flag, void *cb_data);
 static void deepen(struct upload_pack_data *data, int depth)
 {
@@ -1208,7 +1208,7 @@ static int mark_our_ref(const char *refname, const char *refname_full,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int check_ref(const char *refname_full, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int check_ref(const char *refname_full, const char *referent UNUSED,const struct object_id *oid,
 		     int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
 	const char *refname = strip_namespace(refname_full);
@@ -1276,14 +1276,14 @@ static void write_v0_ref(struct upload_pack_data *data,
 	return;
 }
 
-static int send_ref(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
+static int send_ref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED, const struct object_id *oid,
 		    int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data)
 {
 	write_v0_ref(cb_data, refname, strip_namespace(refname), oid);
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int find_symref(const char *refname,
+static int find_symref(const char *refname, const char *referent UNUSED,
 		       const struct object_id *oid UNUSED,
 		       int flag, void *cb_data)
 {
diff --git a/walker.c b/walker.c
index 0fafdc97cf17e8ffa9d90d82b6929641b56d66ae..807a7a388131fe98de6fb7f24e0921e8d46bc8d6 100644
--- a/walker.c
+++ b/walker.c
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ static int interpret_target(struct walker *walker, char *target, struct object_i
 }
 
 static int mark_complete(const char *path UNUSED,
+			const char *referent UNUSED,
 			 const struct object_id *oid,
 			 int flag UNUSED,
 			 void *cb_data UNUSED)
diff --git a/worktree.c b/worktree.c
index f3c4c8ec54d6c41373e22d837e98864260cfa750..fd05f3741c6595eb36357c8bbd6e7022088c88ab 100644
--- a/worktree.c
+++ b/worktree.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ int other_head_refs(each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 					    refname.buf,
 					    RESOLVE_REF_READING,
 					    &oid, &flag))
-			ret = fn(refname.buf, &oid, flag, cb_data);
+			ret = fn(refname.buf, NULL, &oid, flag, cb_data);
 		if (ret)
 			break;
 	}