diff --git a/builtin/rebase.c b/builtin/rebase.c
index 08ec4d52c7..813ec284ca 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase.c
@@ -1740,8 +1740,8 @@ int cmd_rebase(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		strbuf_addf(&msg, "rebase finished: %s onto %s",
 			options.head_name ? options.head_name : "detached HEAD",
 			oid_to_hex(&options.onto->object.oid));
-		reset_head(NULL, "Fast-forwarded", options.head_name, 0,
-			   "HEAD", msg.buf);
+		reset_head(NULL, "Fast-forwarded", options.head_name,
+			   RESET_HEAD_REFS_ONLY, "HEAD", msg.buf);
 		strbuf_release(&msg);
 		ret = !!finish_rebase(&options);
 		goto cleanup;