diff --git a/lib/gitlab/git_access.rb b/lib/gitlab/git_access.rb
index 0f33217460..4ca9b157f7 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/git_access.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/git_access.rb
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ module Gitlab
     def pass_git_hooks?(user, project, ref, oldrev, newrev)
       return true unless project.git_hook
 
+      return true unless newrev && oldrev
+
       git_hook = project.git_hook
 
       # Prevent tag removal