diff --git a/Assistant/Sync.hs b/Assistant/Sync.hs
index cff4f95e0f..fe578ab438 100644
--- a/Assistant/Sync.hs
+++ b/Assistant/Sync.hs
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ pushToRemotes' now notifypushes remotes = do
 	ret <- go True branch g u normalremotes
 	unless (null xmppremotes) $ do
 		shas <- liftAnnex $ map fst <$>
-			inRepo (Git.Ref.matching [Annex.Branch.fullname, Git.Ref.headRef])
+			inRepo (Git.Ref.matchingWithHEAD
+				[Annex.Branch.fullname, Git.Ref.headRef])
 		forM_ xmppremotes $ \r -> sendNetMessage $
 			Pushing (getXMPPClientID r) (CanPush u shas)
 	return ret
diff --git a/Git/Ref.hs b/Git/Ref.hs
index d6e31897cb..954b61a2e5 100644
--- a/Git/Ref.hs
+++ b/Git/Ref.hs
@@ -59,8 +59,16 @@ sha branch repo = process <$> showref repo
 
 {- List of (shas, branches) matching a given ref or refs. -}
 matching :: [Ref] -> Repo -> IO [(Sha, Branch)]
-matching refs repo = map gen . lines <$> 
-	pipeReadStrict (Param "show-ref" : map (Param . show) refs) repo
+matching refs repo =  matching' (map show refs) repo
+
+{- Includes HEAD in the output, if asked for it. -}
+matchingWithHEAD :: [Ref] -> Repo -> IO [(Sha, Branch)]
+matchingWithHEAD refs repo = matching' ("--head" : map show refs) repo
+
+{- List of (shas, branches) matching a given ref or refs. -}
+matching' :: [String] -> Repo -> IO [(Sha, Branch)]
+matching' ps repo = map gen . lines <$> 
+	pipeReadStrict (Param "show-ref" : map Param ps) repo
   where
 	gen l = let (r, b) = separate (== ' ') l
 		in (Ref r, Ref b)