# File lib/gitlab_git/repository.rb, line 140
      def branch_exists?(name)
        rugged.branches.exists?(name)

      # If the branch name is invalid (e.g. ".foo") Rugged will raise an error.
      # Whatever code calls this method shouldn't have to deal with that so
      # instead we just return `false` (which is true since a branch doesn't
      # exist when it has an invalid name).
      rescue Rugged::ReferenceError
        false
      end