diff --git a/git/refs/symbolic.py b/git/refs/symbolic.py
index ae67a7ee8..ec2944c6e 100644
--- a/git/refs/symbolic.py
+++ b/git/refs/symbolic.py
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ def set_reference(self, ref, logmsg=None):
 
         lfd = LockedFD(fpath)
         fd = lfd.open(write=True, stream=True)
-        fd.write(write_value.encode('ascii'))
+        fd.write(write_value.encode('ascii') + b'\n')
         lfd.commit()
 
         # Adjust the reflog