diff --git a/git_refs.py b/git_refs.py
index 9851e78..eefa2ab 100644
--- a/git_refs.py
+++ b/git_refs.py
@@ -41,6 +41,17 @@
     except KeyError:
       return ''
 
+  def deleted(self, name):
+    if self._phyref is not None:
+      if name in self._phyref:
+        del self._phyref[name]
+
+      if name in self._symref:
+        del self._symref[name]
+
+      if name in self._mtime:
+        del self._mtime[name]
+
   def _NeedUpdate(self):
     for name, mtime in self._mtime.iteritems():
       try: