diff --git a/app/models/repository.rb b/app/models/repository.rb
index f11cf1b065d..90cede9d3d4 100644
--- a/app/models/repository.rb
+++ b/app/models/repository.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class Repository
   RESERVED_REFS_NAMES = %W[
     heads
     tags
+    replace
     #{REF_ENVIRONMENTS}
     #{REF_KEEP_AROUND}
     #{REF_ENVIRONMENTS}
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/38234-reserve-refs-replace.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/38234-reserve-refs-replace.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3a5ffbf9db0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/38234-reserve-refs-replace.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Also reserve refs/replace after importing a project
+merge_request: 14436
+author:
+type: fixed