diff --git a/fetch-pack.c b/fetch-pack.c
index d34f322..27f5d2a 100644
--- a/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/fetch-pack.c
@@ -262,9 +262,6 @@
 {
 	struct ref *prev, *current, *next;
 
-	if (!nr_match)
-		return;
-
 	for (prev = NULL, current = *refs; current; current = next) {
 		next = current->next;
 		if ((!memcmp(current->name, "refs/", 5) &&