diff --git a/refs/packed-backend.c b/refs/packed-backend.c
index 023243fd5f..5c107a2d5e 100644
--- a/refs/packed-backend.c
+++ b/refs/packed-backend.c
@@ -455,6 +455,8 @@ static void verify_buffer_safe(struct snapshot *snapshot)
 				 last_line, eof - last_line);
 }
 
+#define SMALL_FILE_SIZE (32*1024)
+
 /*
  * Depending on `mmap_strategy`, either mmap or read the contents of
  * the `packed-refs` file into the snapshot. Return 1 if the file
@@ -489,21 +491,17 @@ static int load_contents(struct snapshot *snapshot)
 		die_errno("couldn't stat %s", snapshot->refs->path);
 	size = xsize_t(st.st_size);
 
-	switch (mmap_strategy) {
-	case MMAP_NONE:
+	if (size <= SMALL_FILE_SIZE || mmap_strategy == MMAP_NONE) {
 		snapshot->buf = xmalloc(size);
 		bytes_read = read_in_full(fd, snapshot->buf, size);
 		if (bytes_read < 0 || bytes_read != size)
 			die_errno("couldn't read %s", snapshot->refs->path);
 		snapshot->eof = snapshot->buf + size;
 		snapshot->mmapped = 0;
-		break;
-	case MMAP_TEMPORARY:
-	case MMAP_OK:
+	} else {
 		snapshot->buf = xmmap(NULL, size, PROT_READ, MAP_PRIVATE, fd, 0);
 		snapshot->eof = snapshot->buf + size;
 		snapshot->mmapped = 1;
-		break;
 	}
 	close(fd);