diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.http.test/src/org/eclipse/jgit/http/test/RefsUnreadableInMemoryRepository.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.http.test/src/org/eclipse/jgit/http/test/RefsUnreadableInMemoryRepository.java
index 80cbe87..4167b03 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.http.test/src/org/eclipse/jgit/http/test/RefsUnreadableInMemoryRepository.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.http.test/src/org/eclipse/jgit/http/test/RefsUnreadableInMemoryRepository.java
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@ public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefix(String prefix) throws IOException {
 
 		/** {@inheritDoc} */
 		@Override
+		public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(String include, Set<String> excludes)
+				throws IOException {
+			if (failing) {
+				throw new IOException("disk failed, no refs found");
+			}
+
+			return super.getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(include, excludes);
+		}
+
+		/** {@inheritDoc} */
+		@Override
 		public Set<Ref> getTipsWithSha1(ObjectId id) throws IOException {
 			if (failing) {
 				throw new IOException("disk failed, no refs found");
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.pgm/src/org/eclipse/jgit/pgm/debug/BenchmarkReftable.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.pgm/src/org/eclipse/jgit/pgm/debug/BenchmarkReftable.java
index 630fac5..f23f4cf 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.pgm/src/org/eclipse/jgit/pgm/debug/BenchmarkReftable.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.pgm/src/org/eclipse/jgit/pgm/debug/BenchmarkReftable.java
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStreamReader;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.eclipse.jgit.internal.storage.file.FileReftableStack;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.internal.storage.io.BlockSource;
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ enum Test {
 		SEEK_COLD, SEEK_HOT,
 		BY_ID_COLD, BY_ID_HOT,
 		WRITE_STACK,
+		GET_REFS_EXCLUDING_REF
 	}
 
 	@Option(name = "--tries")
@@ -91,7 +94,11 @@ protected void run() throws Exception {
 		case WRITE_STACK:
 			writeStack();
 			break;
-		}
+		case GET_REFS_EXCLUDING_REF :
+			getRefsExcludingWithSeekPast(ref);
+			getRefsExcludingWithFilter(ref);
+			break;
+	}
 	}
 
 	private void printf(String fmt, Object... args) throws IOException {
@@ -315,4 +322,49 @@ private void byIdHot(ObjectId id) throws Exception {
 		printf("%12s %10d usec  %9.1f usec/run  %5d runs", "reftable",
 				tot / 1000, (((double) tot) / tries) / 1000, tries);
 	}
+
+	@SuppressWarnings({"nls", "boxing"})
+	private void getRefsExcludingWithFilter(String prefix) throws Exception {
+		long startTime = System.nanoTime();
+		List<Ref> allRefs = new ArrayList<>();
+		try (FileInputStream in = new FileInputStream(reftablePath);
+				BlockSource src = BlockSource.from(in);
+				ReftableReader reader = new ReftableReader(src)) {
+			try (RefCursor rc = reader.allRefs()) {
+				while (rc.next()) {
+					allRefs.add(rc.getRef());
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		int total = allRefs.size();
+		allRefs = allRefs.stream().filter(r -> r.getName().startsWith(prefix)).collect(Collectors.toList());
+		int notStartWithPrefix = allRefs.size();
+		int startWithPrefix = total - notStartWithPrefix;
+		long totalTime = System.nanoTime() - startTime;
+		printf("total time the action took using filter: %10d usec", totalTime / 1000);
+		printf("number of refs that start with prefix: %d", startWithPrefix);
+		printf("number of refs that don't start with prefix: %d", notStartWithPrefix);
+	}
+
+	@SuppressWarnings({"nls", "boxing"})
+	private void getRefsExcludingWithSeekPast(String prefix) throws Exception {
+		long start = System.nanoTime();
+		try (FileInputStream in = new FileInputStream(reftablePath);
+				BlockSource src = BlockSource.from(in);
+				ReftableReader reader = new ReftableReader(src)) {
+			try (RefCursor rc = reader.allRefs()) {
+				while (rc.next()) {
+					if (rc.getRef().getName().startsWith(prefix)) {
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+				rc.seekPastPrefix(prefix);
+				while (rc.next()) {
+					rc.getRef();
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		long tot = System.nanoTime() - start;
+		printf("total time the action took using seek: %10d usec", tot / 1000);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableTest.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableTest.java
index 33bacbe..15c9109 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableTest.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableTest.java
@@ -28,14 +28,18 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.security.SecureRandom;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 
+import java.util.Set;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.AnyObjectId;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.NullProgressMonitor;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.ObjectId;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.PersonIdent;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefDatabase;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefRename;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefUpdate;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefUpdate.Result;
@@ -579,6 +583,64 @@ public void reftableRefsStorageClass() throws IOException {
 		assertEquals(Ref.Storage.PACKED, b.getStorage());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsExcludingPrefix() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> prefixes = new HashSet<>();
+		prefixes.add("refs/tags");
+		// HEAD + 12 refs/heads are present here.
+		List<Ref> refs =
+				db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, prefixes);
+		assertEquals(13, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("refs/heads/a"));
+		for (Ref notInResult : db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefix("refs/tags")) {
+			assertFalse(refs.contains(notInResult));
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsExcludingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/tags/");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/");
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsExcludingNonExistingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/tags/");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/");
+		exclude.add("refs/nonexistent/");
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsWithPrefixExcludingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/pa");
+		String include = "refs/heads/p";
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(include, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("refs/heads/prefix/a"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsWithPrefixExcludingOverlappingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/pa");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/p");
+		exclude.add("refs/tags/");
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+	}
+
 	private RefUpdate updateRef(String name) throws IOException {
 		final RefUpdate ref = db.updateRef(name);
 		ref.setNewObjectId(db.resolve(Constants.HEAD));
@@ -596,4 +658,14 @@ private void writeSymref(String src, String dst) throws IOException {
 			fail("link " + src + " to " + dst);
 		}
 	}
+
+	private static void checkContainsRef(Collection<Ref> haystack, Ref needle) {
+		for (Ref ref : haystack) {
+			if (ref.getName().equals(needle.getName()) &&
+					ref.getObjectId().equals(needle.getObjectId())) {
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+		fail("list " + haystack + " does not contain ref " + needle);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectoryTest.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectoryTest.java
index 97ef599..38c545e 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectoryTest.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/RefDirectoryTest.java
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@
 import java.time.Instant;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
 
@@ -353,6 +355,24 @@ public void testGetRefs_IgnoresGarbageRef4() throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	@Test
+	public void testGetRefs_ExcludingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		writeLooseRef("refs/heads/A", A);
+		writeLooseRef("refs/heads/B", B);
+		writeLooseRef("refs/tags/tag", A);
+		writeLooseRef("refs/something/something", B);
+		writeLooseRef("refs/aaa/aaa", A);
+
+		Set<String> toExclude = new HashSet<>();
+		toExclude.add("refs/aaa/");
+		toExclude.add("refs/heads/");
+		List<Ref> refs = refdir.getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, toExclude);
+
+		assertEquals(2, refs.size());
+		assertTrue(refs.contains(refdir.exactRef("refs/tags/tag")));
+		assertTrue(refs.contains(refdir.exactRef("refs/something/something")));
+	}
+
+	@Test
 	public void testFirstExactRef_IgnoresGarbageRef() throws IOException {
 		writeLooseRef("refs/heads/A", A);
 		write(new File(diskRepo.getDirectory(), "refs/heads/bad"), "FAIL\n");
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftableTest.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftableTest.java
index 0a03fc3..9aea3b4b 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftableTest.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftableTest.java
@@ -138,6 +138,118 @@ public void twoTableSeek() throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	@Test
+	public void twoTableSeekPastWithRefCursor() throws IOException {
+		List<Ref> delta1 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/apple", 1),
+				ref("refs/heads/master", 2));
+		List<Ref> delta2 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/banana", 3),
+				ref("refs/heads/zzlast", 4));
+
+		MergedReftable mr = merge(write(delta1), write(delta2));
+		try (RefCursor rc = mr.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/heads/apple", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertEquals(id(1), rc.getRef().getObjectId());
+
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/banana/");
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/heads/master", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertEquals(id(2), rc.getRef().getObjectId());
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/heads/zzlast", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertEquals(id(4), rc.getRef().getObjectId());
+
+			assertEquals(1, rc.getRef().getUpdateIndex());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void oneTableSeekPastWithRefCursor() throws IOException {
+		List<Ref> delta1 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/apple", 1),
+				ref("refs/heads/master", 2));
+
+		MergedReftable mr = merge(write(delta1));
+		try (RefCursor rc = mr.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/apple");
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/heads/master", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertEquals(id(2), rc.getRef().getObjectId());
+
+			assertEquals(1, rc.getRef().getUpdateIndex());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastToNonExistentPrefixToTheMiddle() throws IOException {
+		List<Ref> delta1 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/apple", 1),
+				ref("refs/heads/master", 2));
+		List<Ref> delta2 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/banana", 3),
+				ref("refs/heads/zzlast", 4));
+
+		MergedReftable mr = merge(write(delta1), write(delta2));
+		try (RefCursor rc = mr.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/x");
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/heads/zzlast", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertEquals(id(4), rc.getRef().getObjectId());
+
+			assertEquals(1, rc.getRef().getUpdateIndex());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastToNonExistentPrefixToTheEnd() throws IOException {
+		List<Ref> delta1 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/apple", 1),
+				ref("refs/heads/master", 2));
+		List<Ref> delta2 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/banana", 3),
+				ref("refs/heads/zzlast", 4));
+
+		MergedReftable mr = merge(write(delta1), write(delta2));
+		try (RefCursor rc = mr.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/zzz");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastManyTimes() throws IOException {
+		List<Ref> delta1 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/apple", 1),
+				ref("refs/heads/master", 2));
+		List<Ref> delta2 = Arrays.asList(
+				ref("refs/heads/banana", 3),
+				ref("refs/heads/zzlast", 4));
+
+		MergedReftable mr = merge(write(delta1), write(delta2));
+		try (RefCursor rc = mr.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/apple");
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/banana");
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/master");
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/zzlast");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastOnEmptyTable() throws IOException {
+		MergedReftable mr = merge(write(), write());
+		try (RefCursor rc = mr.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
 	public void twoTableById() throws IOException {
 		List<Ref> delta1 = Arrays.asList(
 				ref("refs/heads/apple", 1),
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableTest.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableTest.java
index 009914b..56f881e 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableTest.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableTest.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 package org.eclipse.jgit.internal.storage.reftable;
 
+import static java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets.UTF_8;
 import static org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants.HEAD;
 import static org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants.OBJECT_ID_LENGTH;
 import static org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants.R_HEADS;
@@ -49,8 +50,16 @@
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 public class ReftableTest {
+	private static final byte[] LAST_UTF8_CHAR = new byte[] {
+			(byte)0x10,
+			(byte)0xFF,
+			(byte)0xFF};
+
 	private static final String MASTER = "refs/heads/master";
 	private static final String NEXT = "refs/heads/next";
+	private static final String AFTER_NEXT = "refs/heads/nextnext";
+	private static final String LAST = "refs/heads/nextnextnext";
+	private static final String NOT_REF_HEADS = "refs/zzz/zzz";
 	private static final String V1_0 = "refs/tags/v1.0";
 
 	private Stats stats;
@@ -396,6 +405,135 @@ public void namespaceHeads() throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	@Test
+	public void seekPastRefWithRefCursor() throws IOException {
+		Ref exp = ref(MASTER, 1);
+		Ref next = ref(NEXT, 2);
+		Ref afterNext = ref(AFTER_NEXT, 3);
+		Ref afterNextNext = ref(LAST, 4);
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(exp, next, afterNext, afterNextNext));
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(MASTER, rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/next/");
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(AFTER_NEXT, rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(LAST, rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastToNonExistentPrefixToTheMiddle() throws IOException {
+		Ref exp = ref(MASTER, 1);
+		Ref next = ref(NEXT, 2);
+		Ref afterNext = ref(AFTER_NEXT, 3);
+		Ref afterNextNext = ref(LAST, 4);
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(exp, next, afterNext, afterNextNext));
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/master_non_existent");
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(NEXT, rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(AFTER_NEXT, rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(LAST, rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastToNonExistentPrefixToTheEnd() throws IOException {
+		Ref exp = ref(MASTER, 1);
+		Ref next = ref(NEXT, 2);
+		Ref afterNext = ref(AFTER_NEXT, 3);
+		Ref afterNextNext = ref(LAST, 4);
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(exp, next, afterNext, afterNextNext));
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/nextnon_existent_end");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastWithSeekRefsWithPrefix() throws IOException {
+		Ref exp = ref(MASTER, 1);
+		Ref next = ref(NEXT, 2);
+		Ref afterNext = ref(AFTER_NEXT, 3);
+		Ref afterNextNext = ref(LAST, 4);
+		Ref notRefsHeads = ref(NOT_REF_HEADS, 5);
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(exp, next, afterNext, afterNextNext, notRefsHeads));
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.seekRefsWithPrefix("refs/heads/")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/next/");
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(AFTER_NEXT, rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals(LAST, rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			// NOT_REF_HEADS is next, but it's omitted because of
+			// seekRefsWithPrefix("refs/heads/").
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastWithLotsOfRefs() throws IOException {
+		Ref[] refs = new Ref[500];
+		for (int i = 1; i <= 500; i++) {
+			refs[i - 1] = ref(String.format("refs/%d", i), i);
+		}
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(refs));
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.allRefs()) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/3");
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/4", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/40", rc.getRef().getName());
+
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/8");
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/9", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/90", rc.getRef().getName());
+			assertTrue(rc.next());
+			assertEquals("refs/91", rc.getRef().getName());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastManyTimes() throws IOException {
+		Ref exp = ref(MASTER, 1);
+		Ref next = ref(NEXT, 2);
+		Ref afterNext = ref(AFTER_NEXT, 3);
+		Ref afterNextNext = ref(LAST, 4);
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(exp, next, afterNext, afterNextNext));
+
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/master");
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/next");
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/nextnext");
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/nextnextnext");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void seekPastOnEmptyTable() throws IOException {
+		ReftableReader t = read(write());
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.seekRefsWithPrefix("")) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
 	public void indexScan() throws IOException {
 		List<Ref> refs = new ArrayList<>();
 		for (int i = 1; i <= 5670; i++) {
@@ -874,6 +1012,14 @@ public void byObjectIdOneRefWithIndex() throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	@Test
+	public void byObjectIdSkipPastPrefix() throws IOException {
+		ReftableReader t = read(write());
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.byObjectId(id(2))) {
+			assertThrows(UnsupportedOperationException.class, () -> rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/"));
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
 	public void unpeeledDoesNotWrite() {
 		try {
 			write(new ObjectIdRef.Unpeeled(PACKED, MASTER, id(1)));
@@ -884,6 +1030,18 @@ public void unpeeledDoesNotWrite() {
 	}
 
 	@Test
+	public void skipPastRefWithLastUTF8() throws IOException {
+		ReftableReader t = read(write(ref(String.format("refs/heads/%sbla", new String(LAST_UTF8_CHAR
+				, UTF_8)), 1)));
+
+		try (RefCursor rc = t.allRefs()) {
+			rc.seekPastPrefix("refs/heads/");
+			assertFalse(rc.next());
+		}
+	}
+
+
+	@Test
 	public void nameTooLongDoesNotWrite() throws IOException {
 		try {
 			ReftableConfig cfg = new ReftableConfig();
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefTest.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefTest.java
index 88d17ec..7590048 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefTest.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefTest.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import java.io.FileOutputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -318,6 +319,64 @@ public void testGetRefsByPrefixes() throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsExcludingPrefix() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/tags");
+		// HEAD + 12 refs/heads are present here.
+		List<Ref> refs =
+				db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, exclude);
+		assertEquals(13, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("refs/heads/a"));
+		for (Ref notInResult : db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefix("refs/tags")) {
+			assertFalse(refs.contains(notInResult));
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsExcludingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/tags/");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/");
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsExcludingNonExistingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> prefixes = new HashSet<>();
+		prefixes.add("refs/tags/");
+		prefixes.add("refs/heads/");
+		prefixes.add("refs/nonexistent/");
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, prefixes);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsWithPrefixExcludingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/pa");
+		String include = "refs/heads/p";
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(include, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("refs/heads/prefix/a"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetRefsWithPrefixExcludingOverlappingPrefixes() throws IOException {
+		Set<String> exclude = new HashSet<>();
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/pa");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/");
+		exclude.add("refs/heads/p");
+		exclude.add("refs/tags/");
+		List<Ref> refs = db.getRefDatabase().getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(RefDatabase.ALL, exclude);
+		assertEquals(1, refs.size());
+		checkContainsRef(refs, db.exactRef("HEAD"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
 	public void testResolveTipSha1() throws IOException {
 		ObjectId masterId = db.resolve("refs/heads/master");
 		Set<Ref> resolved = db.getRefDatabase().getTipsWithSha1(masterId);
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsReftableDatabase.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsReftableDatabase.java
index 5561dc6..6c3b056 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsReftableDatabase.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/dfs/DfsReftableDatabase.java
@@ -178,6 +178,13 @@ public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefix(String prefix) throws IOException {
 
 	/** {@inheritDoc} */
 	@Override
+	public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(String include, Set<String> excludes)
+			throws IOException {
+		return reftableDatabase.getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(include, excludes);
+	}
+
+	/** {@inheritDoc} */
+	@Override
 	public Set<Ref> getTipsWithSha1(ObjectId id) throws IOException {
 		if (!getReftableConfig().isIndexObjects()) {
 			return super.getTipsWithSha1(id);
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableDatabase.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableDatabase.java
index ad1e753..a80fa837 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableDatabase.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/FileReftableDatabase.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.TreeSet;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.Lock;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
@@ -181,6 +182,13 @@ public Map<String, Ref> getRefs(String prefix) throws IOException {
 
 	/** {@inheritDoc} */
 	@Override
+	public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(String include, Set<String> excludes)
+			throws IOException {
+		return reftableDatabase.getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(include, excludes);
+	}
+
+	/** {@inheritDoc} */
+	@Override
 	public List<Ref> getAdditionalRefs() throws IOException {
 		return Collections.emptyList();
 	}
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftable.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftable.java
index a78f4d2..e210acf 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftable.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/MergedReftable.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 package org.eclipse.jgit.internal.storage.reftable;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.PriorityQueue;
 
@@ -215,6 +216,23 @@ public boolean next() throws IOException {
 			}
 		}
 
+		@Override
+		public void seekPastPrefix(String prefixName) throws IOException {
+			List<RefQueueEntry> entriesToAdd = new ArrayList<>();
+			entriesToAdd.addAll(queue);
+			if (head != null) {
+				entriesToAdd.add(head);
+			}
+
+			head = null;
+			queue.clear();
+
+			for(RefQueueEntry entry : entriesToAdd){
+				entry.rc.seekPastPrefix(prefixName);
+				add(entry);
+			}
+		}
+
 		private RefQueueEntry poll() {
 			RefQueueEntry e = head;
 			if (e != null) {
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/RefCursor.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/RefCursor.java
index d96648e..5e2c350 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/RefCursor.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/RefCursor.java
@@ -29,6 +29,19 @@ public abstract class RefCursor implements AutoCloseable {
 	public abstract boolean next() throws IOException;
 
 	/**
+	 * Seeks forward to the first ref record lexicographically beyond
+	 * {@code prefixName} that doesn't start with {@code prefixName}. If there are
+	 * no more results, skipping some refs won't add new results. E.g if we create a
+	 * RefCursor that returns only results with a specific prefix, skipping that
+	 * prefix won't give results that are not part of the original prefix.
+	 *
+	 * @param prefixName prefix that should be skipped. All previous refs before it
+	 *                   will be skipped.
+	 * @throws java.io.IOException references cannot be read.
+	 */
+	public abstract void seekPastPrefix(String prefixName) throws IOException;
+
+	/**
 	 * Get reference at the current position.
 	 *
 	 * @return reference at the current position.
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableDatabase.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableDatabase.java
index 4747be3..0c16828 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableDatabase.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableDatabase.java
@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.TreeSet;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.eclipse.jgit.annotations.Nullable;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.ObjectId;
@@ -266,6 +268,54 @@ public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefix(String prefix) throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	/**
+	 * Returns refs whose names start with a given prefix excluding all refs that
+	 * start with one of the given prefixes.
+	 *
+	 * @param include string that names of refs should start with; may be empty.
+	 * @param excludes strings that names of refs can't start with; may be empty.
+	 * @return immutable list of refs whose names start with {@code include} and
+	 *         none of the strings in {@code exclude}.
+	 * @throws java.io.IOException the reference space cannot be accessed.
+	 */
+	public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(String include, Set<String> excludes) throws IOException {
+		if (excludes.isEmpty()) {
+			return getRefsByPrefix(include);
+		}
+		List<Ref> results = new ArrayList<>();
+		lock.lock();
+		try {
+			Reftable table = reader();
+			Iterator<String> excludeIterator =
+					excludes.stream().sorted().collect(Collectors.toList()).iterator();
+			String currentExclusion = excludeIterator.hasNext() ? excludeIterator.next() : null;
+			try (RefCursor rc = RefDatabase.ALL.equals(include) ? table.allRefs() : table.seekRefsWithPrefix(include)) {
+				while (rc.next()) {
+					Ref ref = table.resolve(rc.getRef());
+					if (ref == null || ref.getObjectId() == null) {
+						continue;
+					}
+					// Skip prefixes that will never see since we are already further than those
+					// prefixes lexicographically.
+					while (excludeIterator.hasNext() && !ref.getName().startsWith(currentExclusion)
+							&& ref.getName().compareTo(currentExclusion) > 0) {
+						currentExclusion = excludeIterator.next();
+					}
+
+					if (currentExclusion != null && ref.getName().startsWith(currentExclusion)) {
+						rc.seekPastPrefix(currentExclusion);
+						continue;
+					}
+					results.add(ref);
+				}
+			}
+		} finally {
+			lock.unlock();
+		}
+
+		return Collections.unmodifiableList(results);
+	}
+
+	/**
 	 * @return whether there is a fast SHA1 to ref map.
 	 * @throws IOException in case of I/O problems.
 	 */
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableReader.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableReader.java
index 095276f..9e2ae91 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableReader.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/reftable/ReftableReader.java
@@ -509,6 +509,21 @@ public boolean next() throws IOException {
 		}
 
 		@Override
+		public void seekPastPrefix(String prefixName) throws IOException {
+			initRefIndex();
+			byte[] key = prefixName.getBytes(UTF_8);
+			ByteBuffer byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(key.length + 1);
+			byteBuffer.put(key);
+			// Add the representation of the last byte lexicographically. Based on how UTF_8
+			// representation works, this byte will be bigger lexicographically than any
+			// UTF_8 character when translated into bytes, since 0xFF can never be a part of
+			// a UTF_8 string.
+			byteBuffer.put((byte) 0xFF);
+
+			block = seek(REF_BLOCK_TYPE, byteBuffer.array(), refIndex, 0, refEnd);
+		}
+
+		@Override
 		public Ref getRef() {
 			return ref;
 		}
@@ -682,6 +697,17 @@ public boolean next() throws IOException {
 		}
 
 		@Override
+		/**
+		 * The implementation here would not be efficient complexity-wise since it
+		 * expected that there are a small number of refs that match the same object id.
+		 * In such case it's better to not even use this method (as the caller might
+		 * expect it to be efficient).
+		 */
+		public void seekPastPrefix(String prefixName) throws IOException {
+		    throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+		}
+
+		@Override
 		public Ref getRef() {
 			return ref;
 		}
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefDatabase.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefDatabase.java
index 6832c9c..7b7bdeb 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefDatabase.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/RefDatabase.java
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
+import java.util.stream.Stream;
+
 import org.eclipse.jgit.annotations.NonNull;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.annotations.Nullable;
 
@@ -414,6 +417,31 @@ public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefix(String prefix) throws IOException {
 	}
 
 	/**
+	 * Returns refs whose names start with a given prefix excluding all refs that
+	 * start with one of the given prefixes.
+	 *
+	 * <p>
+	 * The default implementation is not efficient. Implementors of {@link RefDatabase}
+	 * should override this method directly if a better implementation is possible.
+	 * 
+	 * @param include string that names of refs should start with; may be empty.
+	 * @param excludes strings that names of refs can't start with; may be empty.
+	 * @return immutable list of refs whose names start with {@code prefix} and none
+	 *         of the strings in {@code exclude}.
+	 * @throws java.io.IOException the reference space cannot be accessed.
+	 * @since 5.11
+	 */
+	@NonNull
+	public List<Ref> getRefsByPrefixWithExclusions(String include, Set<String> excludes)
+			throws IOException {
+		Stream<Ref> refs = getRefs(include).values().stream();
+		for(String exclude: excludes) {
+			refs = refs.filter(r -> !r.getName().startsWith(exclude));
+		}
+		return Collections.unmodifiableList(refs.collect(Collectors.toList()));
+	}
+
+	/**
 	 * Returns refs whose names start with one of the given prefixes.
 	 * <p>
 	 * The default implementation uses {@link #getRefsByPrefix(String)}.