diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/55966-when-ref-is-ambiguous-createpipelineservice-raises-an-error.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/55966-when-ref-is-ambiguous-createpipelineservice-raises-an-error.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..01a162944d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/55966-when-ref-is-ambiguous-createpipelineservice-raises-an-error.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Prevent checking protected_ref? for ambiguous refs.
+merge_request: 24437
+author:
+type: fixed