<!--IssueSummary start--> <details> <summary> Everyone can contribute. [Help move this issue forward](https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/developer-relations/contributor-success/community-contributors-workflows/#contributor-links) while earning points, leveling up and collecting rewards. </summary> - [Close this issue](https://contributors.gitlab.com/manage-issue?action=close&projectId=278964&issueIid=395653) </details> <!--IssueSummary end--> ### Problem Bug in https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/395480+ exposes the problem with `Repository#root_ref_sha` method It doesn't verify that the head commit exist and it leads to `NoMethodError`. This method is used across the application. ### Proposal Remove the method completely and replace usages with the code that correctly handles this case. ``` head_commit = repository.head_commit if head_commit sha = head_commit.sha ... ``` Or alternatively, use `head_commit&.sha` version. However, we should still verify that it doesn't break existing code.