diff --git a/github/git_refs.go b/github/git_refs.go
index a0b4ce4..3d2f6c8 100644
--- a/github/git_refs.go
+++ b/github/git_refs.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package github
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 // Reference represents a GitHub reference.
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ type updateRefRequest struct {
 //
 // GitHub API docs: http://developer.github.com/v3/git/refs/#get-a-reference
 func (s *GitService) GetRef(owner string, repo string, ref string) (*Reference, *Response, error) {
+	ref = strings.TrimPrefix(ref, "refs/")
 	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%v/%v/git/refs/%v", owner, repo, ref)
 	req, err := s.client.NewRequest("GET", u, nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -105,7 +107,8 @@ func (s *GitService) ListRefs(owner, repo string, opt *ReferenceListOptions) ([]
 func (s *GitService) CreateRef(owner string, repo string, ref *Reference) (*Reference, *Response, error) {
 	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%v/%v/git/refs", owner, repo)
 	req, err := s.client.NewRequest("POST", u, &createRefRequest{
-		Ref: String("refs/" + *ref.Ref),
+		// back-compat with previous behavior that didn't require 'refs/' prefix
+		Ref: String("refs/" + strings.TrimPrefix(*ref.Ref, "refs/")),
 		SHA: ref.Object.SHA,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -125,7 +128,8 @@ func (s *GitService) CreateRef(owner string, repo string, ref *Reference) (*Refe
 //
 // GitHub API docs: http://developer.github.com/v3/git/refs/#update-a-reference
 func (s *GitService) UpdateRef(owner string, repo string, ref *Reference, force bool) (*Reference, *Response, error) {
-	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%v/%v/git/refs/%v", owner, repo, *ref.Ref)
+	refPath := strings.TrimPrefix(*ref.Ref, "refs/")
+	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%v/%v/git/refs/%v", owner, repo, refPath)
 	req, err := s.client.NewRequest("PATCH", u, &updateRefRequest{
 		SHA:   ref.Object.SHA,
 		Force: &force,
@@ -147,6 +151,7 @@ func (s *GitService) UpdateRef(owner string, repo string, ref *Reference, force
 //
 // GitHub API docs: http://developer.github.com/v3/git/refs/#delete-a-reference
 func (s *GitService) DeleteRef(owner string, repo string, ref string) (*Response, error) {
+	ref = strings.TrimPrefix(ref, "refs/")
 	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%v/%v/git/refs/%v", owner, repo, ref)
 	req, err := s.client.NewRequest("DELETE", u, nil)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/github/git_refs_test.go b/github/git_refs_test.go
index e75092e..e66bf54 100644
--- a/github/git_refs_test.go
+++ b/github/git_refs_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestGitService_GetRef(t *testing.T) {
 		  }`)
 	})
 
-	ref, _, err := client.Git.GetRef("o", "r", "heads/b")
+	ref, _, err := client.Git.GetRef("o", "r", "refs/heads/b")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Git.GetRef returned error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ func TestGitService_GetRef(t *testing.T) {
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(ref, want) {
 		t.Errorf("Git.GetRef returned %+v, want %+v", ref, want)
 	}
+
+	// without 'refs/' prefix
+	if _, _, err := client.Git.GetRef("o", "r", "heads/b"); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Git.GetRef returned error: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestGitService_ListRefs(t *testing.T) {
@@ -161,7 +166,7 @@ func TestGitService_CreateRef(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	ref, _, err := client.Git.CreateRef("o", "r", &Reference{
-		Ref: String("heads/b"),
+		Ref: String("refs/heads/b"),
 		Object: &GitObject{
 			SHA: String("aa218f56b14c9653891f9e74264a383fa43fefbd"),
 		},
@@ -182,6 +187,17 @@ func TestGitService_CreateRef(t *testing.T) {
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(ref, want) {
 		t.Errorf("Git.CreateRef returned %+v, want %+v", ref, want)
 	}
+
+	// without 'refs/' prefix
+	_, _, err = client.Git.CreateRef("o", "r", &Reference{
+		Ref: String("heads/b"),
+		Object: &GitObject{
+			SHA: String("aa218f56b14c9653891f9e74264a383fa43fefbd"),
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Git.CreateRef returned error: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestGitService_UpdateRef(t *testing.T) {
@@ -214,7 +230,7 @@ func TestGitService_UpdateRef(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	ref, _, err := client.Git.UpdateRef("o", "r", &Reference{
-		Ref:    String("heads/b"),
+		Ref:    String("refs/heads/b"),
 		Object: &GitObject{SHA: String("aa218f56b14c9653891f9e74264a383fa43fefbd")},
 	}, true)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -233,6 +249,15 @@ func TestGitService_UpdateRef(t *testing.T) {
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(ref, want) {
 		t.Errorf("Git.UpdateRef returned %+v, want %+v", ref, want)
 	}
+
+	// without 'refs/' prefix
+	_, _, err = client.Git.UpdateRef("o", "r", &Reference{
+		Ref:    String("heads/b"),
+		Object: &GitObject{SHA: String("aa218f56b14c9653891f9e74264a383fa43fefbd")},
+	}, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Git.UpdateRef returned error: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestGitService_DeleteRef(t *testing.T) {
@@ -243,8 +268,13 @@ func TestGitService_DeleteRef(t *testing.T) {
 		testMethod(t, r, "DELETE")
 	})
 
-	_, err := client.Git.DeleteRef("o", "r", "heads/b")
+	_, err := client.Git.DeleteRef("o", "r", "refs/heads/b")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Git.DeleteRef returned error: %v", err)
 	}
+
+	// without 'refs/' prefix
+	if _, err := client.Git.DeleteRef("o", "r", "heads/b"); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Git.DeleteRef returned error: %v", err)
+	}
 }