diff --git a/git/repo.go b/git/repo.go
index c2408b19dbd4836e99b4d888129ab7baccd91ffd..47ed852443a487eca3e93993e6ce7d364c4e2175 100644
--- a/git/repo.go
+++ b/git/repo.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (r *Repository) Name() string {
 
 // HEAD returns the HEAD reference for a repository.
 func (r *Repository) HEAD() (*Reference, error) {
-	rn, err := r.SymbolicRef(git.SymbolicRefOptions{Name: "HEAD"})
+	rn, err := r.Repository.SymbolicRef(git.SymbolicRefOptions{Name: "HEAD"})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -235,3 +235,13 @@ func (r *Repository) SetConfig(key, value string, opts ...ConfigOptions) error {
 	opt.File = filepath.Join(dir, "config")
 	return SetConfig(key, value, opt)
 }
+
+// SymbolicRef returns or updates the symbolic reference for the given name.
+// Both name and ref can be empty.
+func (r *Repository) SymbolicRef(name string, ref string) (string, error) {
+	opt := git.SymbolicRefOptions{
+		Name: name,
+		Ref:  ref,
+	}
+	return r.Repository.SymbolicRef(opt)
+}