diff --git a/builtin/refs.c b/builtin/refs.c
index a29f195834..55ff5dae11 100644
--- a/builtin/refs.c
+++ b/builtin/refs.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static int cmd_refs_verify(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 	git_config(git_fsck_config, &fsck_refs_options);
 	prepare_repo_settings(the_repository);
 
-	worktrees = get_worktrees();
+	worktrees = get_worktrees_without_reading_head();
 	for (size_t i = 0; worktrees[i]; i++)
 		ret |= refs_fsck(get_worktree_ref_store(worktrees[i]),
 				 &fsck_refs_options, worktrees[i]);
diff --git a/worktree.c b/worktree.c
index 248bbb39d4..89b7d86cef 100644
--- a/worktree.c
+++ b/worktree.c
@@ -175,6 +175,11 @@ struct worktree **get_worktrees(void)
 	return get_worktrees_internal(0);
 }
 
+struct worktree **get_worktrees_without_reading_head(void)
+{
+	return get_worktrees_internal(1);
+}
+
 const char *get_worktree_git_dir(const struct worktree *wt)
 {
 	if (!wt)
diff --git a/worktree.h b/worktree.h
index 38145df80f..a305c7e2c7 100644
--- a/worktree.h
+++ b/worktree.h
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@ struct worktree {
  */
 struct worktree **get_worktrees(void);
 
+/*
+ * Like `get_worktrees`, but does not read HEAD. Skip reading HEAD allows to
+ * get the worktree without worrying about failures pertaining to parsing
+ * the HEAD ref. This is useful in contexts where it is assumed that the
+ * refdb may not be in a consistent state.
+ */
+struct worktree **get_worktrees_without_reading_head(void);
+
 /*
  * Returns 1 if linked worktrees exist, 0 otherwise.
  */