diff --git a/src/refs.c b/src/refs.c
index 20f9e0dee..555650a4c 100644
--- a/src/refs.c
+++ b/src/refs.c
@@ -1120,6 +1120,8 @@ static int reference_rename(git_reference *ref, const char *new_name, int force)
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to rename reference");
 
+	new_name = normalized_name;
+
 	/* Ensure we're not going to overwrite an existing reference
 	   unless the user has allowed us */
 	error = git_reference_lookup(&looked_up_ref, ref->owner, new_name);