diff --git a/models/fixtures/branch.yml b/models/fixtures/branch.yml
index 717230149be8a..a17999091e032 100644
--- a/models/fixtures/branch.yml
+++ b/models/fixtures/branch.yml
@@ -225,3 +225,27 @@
   is_deleted: false
   deleted_by_id: 0
   deleted_unix: 0
+
+-
+  id: 27
+  repo_id: 1
+  name: 'DefaultBranch'
+  commit_id: '90c1019714259b24fb81711d4416ac0f18667dfa'
+  commit_message: 'add license'
+  commit_time: 1709345946
+  pusher_id: 1
+  is_deleted: false
+  deleted_by_id: 0
+  deleted_unix: 0
+
+-
+  id: 28
+  repo_id: 1
+  name: 'sub-home-md-img-check'
+  commit_id: '4649299398e4d39a5c09eb4f534df6f1e1eb87cc'
+  commit_message: "Test how READMEs render images when found in a subfolder"
+  commit_time: 1678403550
+  pusher_id: 1
+  is_deleted: false
+  deleted_by_id: 0
+  deleted_unix: 0
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
index 65fac45aa11f2..a703ca6909516 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func CreateBranch(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 			return
 		}
 	} else if len(opt.OldBranchName) > 0 { //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
-		if gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, opt.OldBranchName) { //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
+		if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, opt.OldBranchName); exist { //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
 			oldCommit, err = ctx.Repo.GitRepo.GetBranchCommit(opt.OldBranchName) //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
 			if err != nil {
 				ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
@@ -1011,7 +1011,11 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	isPlainRule := !git_model.IsRuleNameSpecial(bpName)
 	var isBranchExist bool
 	if isPlainRule {
-		isBranchExist = gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, bpName)
+		isBranchExist, err = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, bpName)
+		if err != nil {
+			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	if isBranchExist {
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go
index 2561ff3975860..9305ad8c2d7b2 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	activities_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/activities"
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	issues_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/issues"
 	access_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/perm/access"
 	pull_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/pull"
@@ -755,7 +756,12 @@ func EditPullRequest(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 
 	// change pull target branch
 	if !pr.HasMerged && len(form.Base) != 0 && form.Base != pr.BaseBranch {
-		if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, form.Base) {
+		branchExist, err := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, form.Base)
+		if err != nil {
+			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+			return
+		}
+		if !branchExist {
 			ctx.APIError(http.StatusNotFound, fmt.Errorf("new base '%s' not exist", form.Base))
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go b/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go
index 1cfe01a639903..b872dcbd2cc77 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package utils
 import (
 	"errors"
 
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ func ResolveRefCommit(ctx reqctx.RequestContext, repo *repo_model.Repository, in
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	refCommit := RefCommit{InputRef: inputRef}
-	if gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, inputRef) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, inputRef); exist {
 		refCommit.RefName = git.RefNameFromBranch(inputRef)
 	} else if gitrepo.IsTagExist(ctx, repo, inputRef) {
 		refCommit.RefName = git.RefNameFromTag(inputRef)
diff --git a/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go b/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go
index 9d69bbcedfaba..88e8b466f1514 100644
--- a/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go
+++ b/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/private"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/web"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/services/agit"
 	gitea_context "code.gitea.io/gitea/services/context"
 	pull_service "code.gitea.io/gitea/services/pull"
 )
@@ -452,25 +454,18 @@ func preReceiveFor(ctx *preReceiveContext, refFullName git.RefName) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	baseBranchName := refFullName.ForBranchName()
-
-	baseBranchExist := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, baseBranchName)
-
-	if !baseBranchExist {
-		for p, v := range baseBranchName {
-			if v == '/' && gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, baseBranchName[:p]) && p != len(baseBranchName)-1 {
-				baseBranchExist = true
-				break
-			}
+	_, _, err := agit.GetAgitBranchInfo(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, refFullName.ForBranchName())
+	if err != nil {
+		if !errors.Is(err, util.ErrNotExist) {
+			ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, private.Response{
+				UserMsg: fmt.Sprintf("Unexpected ref: %s", refFullName),
+			})
+		} else {
+			ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, private.Response{
+				Err: err.Error(),
+			})
 		}
 	}
-
-	if !baseBranchExist {
-		ctx.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, private.Response{
-			UserMsg: fmt.Sprintf("Unexpected ref: %s", refFullName),
-		})
-		return
-	}
 }
 
 func generateGitEnv(opts *private.HookOptions) (env []string) {
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/compare.go b/routers/web/repo/compare.go
index 08bd0a7e74c17..f3375e4898d33 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/compare.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/compare.go
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ func ParseCompareInfo(ctx *context.Context) *common.CompareInfo {
 
 	// Check if base branch is valid.
 	baseIsCommit := ctx.Repo.GitRepo.IsCommitExist(ci.BaseBranch)
-	baseIsBranch := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, ci.BaseBranch)
+	baseIsBranch, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, ci.BaseBranch)
 	baseIsTag := gitrepo.IsTagExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, ci.BaseBranch)
 
 	if !baseIsCommit && !baseIsBranch && !baseIsTag {
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ func ParseCompareInfo(ctx *context.Context) *common.CompareInfo {
 
 	// Check if head branch is valid.
 	headIsCommit := ci.HeadGitRepo.IsCommitExist(ci.HeadBranch)
-	headIsBranch := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ci.HeadRepo, ci.HeadBranch)
+	headIsBranch, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ci.HeadRepo.ID, ci.HeadBranch)
 	headIsTag := gitrepo.IsTagExist(ctx, ci.HeadRepo, ci.HeadBranch)
 	if !headIsCommit && !headIsBranch && !headIsTag {
 		// Check if headBranch is short sha commit hash
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go b/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go
index 4e7f245296c17..edad756b6bd5c 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	issues_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/issues"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/renderhelper"
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/htmlutil"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup/markdown"
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func NewComment(ctx *context.Context) {
 						ctx.ServerError("Unable to load head repo", err)
 						return
 					}
-					if ok := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo, pull.BaseBranch); !ok {
+					if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo.ID, pull.BaseBranch); !exist {
 						// todo localize
 						ctx.JSONError("The origin branch is delete, cannot reopen.")
 						return
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go b/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go
index 5866ddc4026d0..82a776db5bdb7 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/emoji"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup/markdown"
@@ -566,8 +565,10 @@ func preparePullViewDeleteBranch(ctx *context.Context, issue *issues_model.Issue
 	pull := issue.PullRequest
 	isPullBranchDeletable := canDelete &&
 		pull.HeadRepo != nil &&
-		gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo, pull.HeadBranch) &&
 		(!pull.HasMerged || ctx.Data["HeadBranchCommitID"] == ctx.Data["PullHeadCommitID"])
+	if isPullBranchDeletable {
+		isPullBranchDeletable, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo.ID, pull.HeadBranch)
+	}
 
 	if isPullBranchDeletable && pull.HasMerged {
 		exist, err := issues_model.HasUnmergedPullRequestsByHeadInfo(ctx, pull.HeadRepoID, pull.HeadBranch)
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/pull.go b/routers/web/repo/pull.go
index 1d7e5be31f90d..580339d2cb00b 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/pull.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/pull.go
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func prepareViewPullInfo(ctx *context.Context, issue *issues_model.Issue) *pull_
 		defer baseGitRepo.Close()
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.BaseRepo, pull.BaseBranch) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.BaseRepo.ID, pull.BaseBranch); !exist {
 		ctx.Data["BaseBranchNotExist"] = true
 		ctx.Data["IsPullRequestBroken"] = true
 		ctx.Data["BaseTarget"] = pull.BaseBranch
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ func prepareViewPullInfo(ctx *context.Context, issue *issues_model.Issue) *pull_
 		defer closer.Close()
 
 		if pull.Flow == issues_model.PullRequestFlowGithub {
-			headBranchExist = gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo, pull.HeadBranch)
+			headBranchExist, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo.ID, pull.HeadBranch)
 		} else {
 			headBranchExist = gitrepo.IsReferenceExist(ctx, pull.BaseRepo, pull.GetGitHeadRefName())
 		}
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/release.go b/routers/web/repo/release.go
index 36ea20c23e6f7..4ed9e0bdbde44 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/release.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/release.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/unit"
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup/markdown"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/optional"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
@@ -424,7 +423,7 @@ func NewReleasePost(ctx *context.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, form.Target) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, form.Target); !exist {
 		ctx.RenderWithErr(ctx.Tr("form.target_branch_not_exist"), tplReleaseNew, &form)
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/services/agit/agit.go b/services/agit/agit.go
index 8ba14f9b22632..15fc2e8fb51f1 100644
--- a/services/agit/agit.go
+++ b/services/agit/agit.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package agit
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/base64"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -32,6 +33,34 @@ func parseAgitPushOptionValue(s string) string {
 	return s
 }
 
+func GetAgitBranchInfo(ctx context.Context, repoID int64, baseBranchName string) (string, string, error) {
+	baseBranchExist, err := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repoID, baseBranchName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	if baseBranchExist {
+		return baseBranchName, "", nil
+	}
+
+	// try match <target-branch>/<topic-branch>
+	// refs/for have been trimmed to get baseBranchName
+	for p, v := range baseBranchName {
+		if v != '/' {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		baseBranchExist, err := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repoID, baseBranchName[:p])
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", "", err
+		}
+		if baseBranchExist {
+			return baseBranchName[:p], baseBranchName[p+1:], nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", "", util.NewNotExistErrorf("base branch does not exist")
+}
+
 // ProcReceive handle proc receive work
 func ProcReceive(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, gitRepo *git.Repository, opts *private.HookOptions) ([]private.HookProcReceiveRefResult, error) {
 	results := make([]private.HookProcReceiveRefResult, 0, len(opts.OldCommitIDs))
@@ -70,17 +99,19 @@ func ProcReceive(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, gitRepo *git.
 			continue
 		}
 
-		baseBranchName := opts.RefFullNames[i].ForBranchName()
-		currentTopicBranch := ""
-		if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, baseBranchName) {
-			// try match refs/for/<target-branch>/<topic-branch>
-			for p, v := range baseBranchName {
-				if v == '/' && gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, baseBranchName[:p]) && p != len(baseBranchName)-1 {
-					currentTopicBranch = baseBranchName[p+1:]
-					baseBranchName = baseBranchName[:p]
-					break
-				}
+		baseBranchName, currentTopicBranch, err := GetAgitBranchInfo(ctx, repo.ID, opts.RefFullNames[i].ForBranchName())
+		if err != nil {
+			if !errors.Is(err, util.ErrNotExist) {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get branch information. Error: %w", err)
 			}
+			// If branch does not exist, we can continue
+			results = append(results, private.HookProcReceiveRefResult{
+				OriginalRef: opts.RefFullNames[i],
+				OldOID:      opts.OldCommitIDs[i],
+				NewOID:      opts.NewCommitIDs[i],
+				Err:         "base-branch does not exist",
+			})
+			continue
 		}
 
 		if len(topicBranch) == 0 && len(currentTopicBranch) == 0 {
diff --git a/services/agit/agit_test.go b/services/agit/agit_test.go
index feaf7dca9baf4..21224a41e944a 100644
--- a/services/agit/agit_test.go
+++ b/services/agit/agit_test.go
@@ -6,11 +6,56 @@ package agit
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/unittest"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
+
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
+func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
+	unittest.MainTest(m)
+}
+
 func TestParseAgitPushOptionValue(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "a", parseAgitPushOptionValue("a"))
 	assert.Equal(t, "a", parseAgitPushOptionValue("{base64}YQ=="))
 	assert.Equal(t, "{base64}invalid value", parseAgitPushOptionValue("{base64}invalid value"))
 }
+
+func TestGetAgitBranchInfo(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.NoError(t, unittest.PrepareTestDatabase())
+
+	_, _, err := GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "non-exist-basebranch")
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrNotExist)
+
+	baseBranch, currentTopicBranch, err := GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "master")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "master", baseBranch)
+	assert.Empty(t, currentTopicBranch)
+
+	baseBranch, currentTopicBranch, err = GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "master/topicbranch")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "master", baseBranch)
+	assert.Equal(t, "topicbranch", currentTopicBranch)
+
+	baseBranch, currentTopicBranch, err = GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "master/")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "master", baseBranch)
+	assert.Empty(t, currentTopicBranch)
+
+	_, _, err = GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "/")
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrNotExist)
+
+	_, _, err = GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "//")
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrNotExist)
+
+	baseBranch, currentTopicBranch, err = GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "master/topicbranch/")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "master", baseBranch)
+	assert.Equal(t, "topicbranch/", currentTopicBranch)
+
+	baseBranch, currentTopicBranch, err = GetAgitBranchInfo(t.Context(), 1, "master/topicbranch/1")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "master", baseBranch)
+	assert.Equal(t, "topicbranch/1", currentTopicBranch)
+}
diff --git a/services/automerge/automerge.go b/services/automerge/automerge.go
index eabfeff1430b2..f14911f880db8 100644
--- a/services/automerge/automerge.go
+++ b/services/automerge/automerge.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/db"
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	issues_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/issues"
 	access_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/perm/access"
 	pull_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/pull"
@@ -207,7 +208,10 @@ func handlePullRequestAutoMerge(pullID int64, sha string) {
 
 	switch pr.Flow {
 	case issues_model.PullRequestFlowGithub:
-		headBranchExist := pr.HeadRepo != nil && gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo, pr.HeadBranch)
+		headBranchExist := pr.HeadRepo != nil
+		if headBranchExist {
+			headBranchExist, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo.ID, pr.HeadBranch)
+		}
 		if !headBranchExist {
 			log.Warn("Head branch of auto merge %-v does not exist [HeadRepoID: %d, Branch: %s]", pr, pr.HeadRepoID, pr.HeadBranch)
 			return
diff --git a/services/pull/commit_status.go b/services/pull/commit_status.go
index e7c14a5e7aabf..25860fc1a8a2c 100644
--- a/services/pull/commit_status.go
+++ b/services/pull/commit_status.go
@@ -96,8 +96,12 @@ func GetPullRequestCommitStatusState(ctx context.Context, pr *issues_model.PullR
 	}
 	defer closer.Close()
 
-	if pr.Flow == issues_model.PullRequestFlowGithub && !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo, pr.HeadBranch) {
-		return "", errors.New("Head branch does not exist, can not merge")
+	if pr.Flow == issues_model.PullRequestFlowGithub {
+		if exist, err := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo.ID, pr.HeadBranch); err != nil {
+			return "", errors.Wrap(err, "IsBranchExist")
+		} else if !exist {
+			return "", errors.New("Head branch does not exist, can not merge")
+		}
 	}
 	if pr.Flow == issues_model.PullRequestFlowAGit && !gitrepo.IsReferenceExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo, pr.GetGitHeadRefName()) {
 		return "", errors.New("Head branch does not exist, can not merge")
diff --git a/services/pull/protected_branch.go b/services/pull/protected_branch.go
index 181bd32f44357..68ae7bc2ed2ca 100644
--- a/services/pull/protected_branch.go
+++ b/services/pull/protected_branch.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 
 	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 )
 
 func CreateOrUpdateProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository,
@@ -22,8 +21,7 @@ func CreateOrUpdateProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Reposit
 	isPlainRule := !git_model.IsRuleNameSpecial(protectBranch.RuleName)
 	var isBranchExist bool
 	if isPlainRule {
-		// TODO: read the database directly to check if the branch exists
-		isBranchExist = gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, protectBranch.RuleName)
+		isBranchExist, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, protectBranch.RuleName)
 	}
 
 	if isBranchExist {
diff --git a/services/pull/temp_repo.go b/services/pull/temp_repo.go
index 4f7a504b11d2c..113d1cb49ec56 100644
--- a/services/pull/temp_repo.go
+++ b/services/pull/temp_repo.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git/gitcmd"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	repo_module "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/repository"
 )
@@ -182,7 +181,7 @@ func createTemporaryRepoForPR(ctx context.Context, pr *issues_model.PullRequest)
 	if err := prCtx.PrepareGitCmd(gitcmd.NewCommand("fetch").AddArguments(fetchArgs...).AddDynamicArguments(remoteRepoName, headBranch+":"+trackingBranch)).
 		Run(ctx); err != nil {
 		cancel()
-		if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo, pr.HeadBranch) {
+		if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo.ID, pr.HeadBranch); !exist {
 			return nil, nil, git_model.ErrBranchNotExist{
 				BranchName: pr.HeadBranch,
 			}
diff --git a/services/repository/branch.go b/services/repository/branch.go
index b49478422c51e..57eefbb741534 100644
--- a/services/repository/branch.go
+++ b/services/repository/branch.go
@@ -409,11 +409,11 @@ func RenameBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, doer *user_m
 		return "target_exist", nil
 	}
 
-	if gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, to) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, to); exist {
 		return "target_exist", nil
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, from) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, from); !exist {
 		return "from_not_exist", nil
 	}
 
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ func SetRepoDefaultBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, newB
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, newBranchName) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, newBranchName); !exist {
 		return git_model.ErrBranchNotExist{
 			BranchName: newBranchName,
 		}
diff --git a/tests/integration/api_branch_test.go b/tests/integration/api_branch_test.go
index 12e2b18312a62..2147ef9d0d9c7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/api_branch_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/api_branch_test.go
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ func TestAPICreateBranchWithSyncBranches(t *testing.T) {
 		RepoID: 1,
 	})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, branches, 6)
+	assert.Len(t, branches, 8)
 
 	// make a broke repository with no branch on database
 	_, err = db.DeleteByBean(t.Context(), git_model.Branch{RepoID: 1})
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func TestAPICreateBranchWithSyncBranches(t *testing.T) {
 		RepoID: 1,
 	})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, branches, 7)
+	assert.Len(t, branches, 9)
 
 	branches, err = db.Find[git_model.Branch](t.Context(), git_model.FindBranchOptions{
 		RepoID:  1,