diff --git a/git/refs/symbolic.py b/git/refs/symbolic.py
index 5c293aa7b..6361713de 100644
--- a/git/refs/symbolic.py
+++ b/git/refs/symbolic.py
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def set_reference(
 
         lfd = LockedFD(fpath)
         fd = lfd.open(write=True, stream=True)
-        ok = True
+        ok = False
         try:
             fd.write(write_value.encode("utf-8") + b"\n")
             lfd.commit()