diff --git a/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb b/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
index 17024e8a0af..aeee7f0a5d2 100644
--- a/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
+++ b/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
@@ -268,6 +268,12 @@ module Ci
       stage unless stage.statuses_count.zero?
     end
 
+    def ref_exists?
+      project.repository.ref_exists?(git_ref)
+    rescue Gitlab::Git::Repository::NoRepository
+      false
+    end
+
     ##
     # TODO We do not completely switch to persisted stages because of
     # race conditions with setting statuses gitlab-ce#23257.
@@ -674,11 +680,11 @@ module Ci
 
     def push_details
       strong_memoize(:push_details) do
-        Gitlab::Git::Push.new(project, before_sha, sha, push_ref)
+        Gitlab::Git::Push.new(project, before_sha, sha, git_ref)
       end
     end
 
-    def push_ref
+    def git_ref
       if branch?
         Gitlab::Git::BRANCH_REF_PREFIX + ref.to_s
       elsif tag?
diff --git a/app/views/projects/pipelines/_info.html.haml b/app/views/projects/pipelines/_info.html.haml
index dbb563f51ea..2575efc0981 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/pipelines/_info.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/projects/pipelines/_info.html.haml
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@
       = pluralize @pipeline.total_size, "job"
       - if @pipeline.ref
         from
-        = link_to @pipeline.ref, project_ref_path(@project, @pipeline.ref), class: "ref-name"
+        - if @pipeline.ref_exists?
+          = link_to @pipeline.ref, project_ref_path(@project, @pipeline.ref), class: "ref-name"
+        - else
+          %span.ref-name
+            = @pipeline.ref
       - if @pipeline.duration
         in
         = time_interval_in_words(@pipeline.duration)
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/42611-removed-branch-link.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/42611-removed-branch-link.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..03a206871b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/42611-removed-branch-link.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Only render link to branch when branch still exists in pipeline page
+merge_request:
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/spec/features/projects/pipelines/pipeline_spec.rb b/spec/features/projects/pipelines/pipeline_spec.rb
index 491c64fc329..cd6c37bf54d 100644
--- a/spec/features/projects/pipelines/pipeline_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/projects/pipelines/pipeline_spec.rb
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ describe 'Pipeline', :js do
       expect(page).to have_css('#js-tab-pipeline.active')
     end
 
+    it 'shows link to the pipeline ref' do
+      expect(page).to have_link(pipeline.ref)
+    end
+
     it_behaves_like 'showing user status' do
       let(:user_with_status) { pipeline.user }
 
@@ -236,6 +240,20 @@ describe 'Pipeline', :js do
         it { expect(page).not_to have_content('Cancel running') }
       end
     end
+
+    context 'when pipeline ref does not exist in repository anymore' do
+      let(:pipeline) do
+        create(:ci_empty_pipeline, project: project,
+                                   ref: 'non-existent',
+                                   sha: project.commit.id,
+                                   user: user)
+      end
+
+      it 'does not render link to the pipeline ref' do
+        expect(page).not_to have_link(pipeline.ref)
+        expect(page).to have_content(pipeline.ref)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   context 'when user does not have access to read jobs' do
diff --git a/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb b/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb
index 3b01b39ecab..153244b2159 100644
--- a/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb
@@ -779,6 +779,41 @@ describe Ci::Pipeline, :mailer do
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'ref_exists?' do
+    context 'when repository exists' do
+      using RSpec::Parameterized::TableSyntax
+
+      let(:project) { create(:project, :repository) }
+
+      where(:tag, :ref, :result) do
+        false | 'master'              | true
+        false | 'non-existent-branch' | false
+        true  | 'v1.1.0'              | true
+        true  | 'non-existent-tag'    | false
+      end
+
+      with_them do
+        let(:pipeline) do
+          create(:ci_empty_pipeline, project: project, tag: tag, ref: ref)
+        end
+
+        it "correctly detects ref" do
+          expect(pipeline.ref_exists?).to be result
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when repository does not exist' do
+      let(:pipeline) do
+        create(:ci_empty_pipeline, project: project, ref: 'master')
+      end
+
+      it 'always returns false' do
+        expect(pipeline.ref_exists?).to eq false
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   context 'with non-empty project' do
     let(:project) { create(:project, :repository) }