diff --git a/routers/private/hook.go b/routers/private/hook.go
index 40edcd9c5a116..6e8437f31b253 100644
--- a/routers/private/hook.go
+++ b/routers/private/hook.go
@@ -466,6 +466,8 @@ func HookPreReceive(ctx *gitea_context.PrivateContext) {
 				})
 				return
 			}
+		} else if strings.HasPrefix(refFullName, git.NotesRef) {
+			continue
 		} else {
 			log.Error("Unexpected ref: %s", refFullName)
 			ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, private.Response{