diff --git a/scmrepo/git/backend/pygit2.py b/scmrepo/git/backend/pygit2.py
index d95e338b..6849d575 100644
--- a/scmrepo/git/backend/pygit2.py
+++ b/scmrepo/git/backend/pygit2.py
@@ -317,9 +317,17 @@ def set_ref(
             )
 
     def get_ref(self, name, follow: bool = True) -> Optional[str]:
-        from pygit2 import GIT_OBJ_COMMIT, GIT_REF_SYMBOLIC, Tag
+        from pygit2 import (
+            GIT_OBJ_COMMIT,
+            GIT_REF_SYMBOLIC,
+            InvalidSpecError,
+            Tag,
+        )
 
-        ref = self.repo.references.get(name)
+        try:
+            ref = self.repo.references.get(name)
+        except InvalidSpecError:
+            return None
         if not ref:
             return None
         if follow and ref.type == GIT_REF_SYMBOLIC:
diff --git a/tests/test_git.py b/tests/test_git.py
index cc1655be..34ef7e58 100644
--- a/tests/test_git.py
+++ b/tests/test_git.py
@@ -571,6 +571,7 @@ def test_resolve_rev(
     assert git.resolve_rev("refs/foo") == rev
     assert git.resolve_rev("bar") == rev
     assert git.resolve_rev("origin/baz") == rev
+    assert git.resolve_rev("HEAD~1") == init_rev
 
     with pytest.raises(RevError):
         git.resolve_rev("qux")
@@ -578,6 +579,9 @@ def test_resolve_rev(
     with pytest.raises(RevError):
         git.resolve_rev("baz")
 
+    with pytest.raises(RevError):
+        git.resolve_rev("HEAD~3")
+
 
 @pytest.mark.skip_git_backend("dulwich")
 def test_checkout(tmp_dir: TmpDir, scm: Git, git: Git):