diff --git a/refs/reftable-backend.c b/refs/reftable-backend.c
index e206d5a073..0358da14db 100644
--- a/refs/reftable-backend.c
+++ b/refs/reftable-backend.c
@@ -1351,7 +1351,8 @@ static int write_copy_table(struct reftable_writer *writer, void *cb_data)
 	/*
 	 * Verify that the new refname is available.
 	 */
-	string_list_insert(&skip, arg->oldname);
+	if (arg->delete_old)
+		string_list_insert(&skip, arg->oldname);
 	ret = refs_verify_refname_available(&arg->refs->base, arg->newname,
 					    NULL, &skip, &errbuf);
 	if (ret < 0) {
diff --git a/t/t0610-reftable-basics.sh b/t/t0610-reftable-basics.sh
index 686781192e..055231a707 100755
--- a/t/t0610-reftable-basics.sh
+++ b/t/t0610-reftable-basics.sh
@@ -730,6 +730,39 @@ test_expect_success 'reflog: updates via HEAD update HEAD reflog' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'branch: copying branch with D/F conflict' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo" &&
+	git init repo &&
+	(
+		cd repo &&
+		test_commit A &&
+		git branch branch &&
+		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		error: ${SQ}refs/heads/branch${SQ} exists; cannot create ${SQ}refs/heads/branch/moved${SQ}
+		fatal: branch copy failed
+		EOF
+		test_must_fail git branch -c branch branch/moved 2>err &&
+		test_cmp expect err
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'branch: moving branch with D/F conflict' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo" &&
+	git init repo &&
+	(
+		cd repo &&
+		test_commit A &&
+		git branch branch &&
+		git branch conflict &&
+		cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		error: ${SQ}refs/heads/conflict${SQ} exists; cannot create ${SQ}refs/heads/conflict/moved${SQ}
+		fatal: branch rename failed
+		EOF
+		test_must_fail git branch -m branch conflict/moved 2>err &&
+		test_cmp expect err
+	)
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'worktree: adding worktree creates separate stack' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo worktree" &&
 	git init repo &&