diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
index 65fac45aa11f2..a703ca6909516 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/branch.go
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func CreateBranch(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 			return
 		}
 	} else if len(opt.OldBranchName) > 0 { //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
-		if gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, opt.OldBranchName) { //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
+		if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, opt.OldBranchName); exist { //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
 			oldCommit, err = ctx.Repo.GitRepo.GetBranchCommit(opt.OldBranchName) //nolint:staticcheck // deprecated field
 			if err != nil {
 				ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
@@ -1011,7 +1011,11 @@ func EditBranchProtection(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	isPlainRule := !git_model.IsRuleNameSpecial(bpName)
 	var isBranchExist bool
 	if isPlainRule {
-		isBranchExist = gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, bpName)
+		isBranchExist, err = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, bpName)
+		if err != nil {
+			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	if isBranchExist {
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go
index ff6ddbce2d4bc..3c9254eee54b8 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/pull.go
@@ -756,7 +756,12 @@ func EditPullRequest(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 
 	// change pull target branch
 	if !pr.HasMerged && len(form.Base) != 0 && form.Base != pr.BaseBranch {
-		if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, form.Base) {
+		branchExist, err := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, form.Base)
+		if err != nil {
+			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
+			return
+		}
+		if !branchExist {
 			ctx.APIError(http.StatusNotFound, fmt.Errorf("new base '%s' not exist", form.Base))
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go b/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go
index 1cfe01a639903..b872dcbd2cc77 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/utils/git.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package utils
 import (
 	"errors"
 
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ func ResolveRefCommit(ctx reqctx.RequestContext, repo *repo_model.Repository, in
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	refCommit := RefCommit{InputRef: inputRef}
-	if gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, inputRef) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, inputRef); exist {
 		refCommit.RefName = git.RefNameFromBranch(inputRef)
 	} else if gitrepo.IsTagExist(ctx, repo, inputRef) {
 		refCommit.RefName = git.RefNameFromTag(inputRef)
diff --git a/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go b/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go
index 99a0b450d701f..4f1fcce8ef7ba 100644
--- a/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go
+++ b/routers/private/hook_pre_receive.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git/gitcmd"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/private"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/web"
@@ -449,12 +448,27 @@ func preReceiveFor(ctx *preReceiveContext, refFullName git.RefName) {
 
 	baseBranchName := refFullName.ForBranchName()
 
-	baseBranchExist := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, baseBranchName)
+	baseBranchExist, err := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, baseBranchName)
+	if err != nil {
+		ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, private.Response{
+			Err: err.Error(),
+		})
+		return
+	}
 
 	if !baseBranchExist {
 		for p, v := range baseBranchName {
-			if v == '/' && gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, baseBranchName[:p]) && p != len(baseBranchName)-1 {
-				baseBranchExist = true
+			if v != '/' || p == len(baseBranchName)-1 {
+				continue
+			}
+			baseBranchExist, err = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, baseBranchName[:p])
+			if err != nil {
+				ctx.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, private.Response{
+					Err: err.Error(),
+				})
+				return
+			}
+			if baseBranchExist {
 				break
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/activity.go b/routers/web/repo/activity.go
index 8232f0cc04bc3..fcede1822aeca 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/activity.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/activity.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	activities_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/activities"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/unit"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/templates"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/services/context"
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func Activity(ctx *context.Context) {
 	canReadCode := ctx.Repo.CanRead(unit.TypeCode)
 	if canReadCode {
 		// GetActivityStats needs to read the default branch to get some information
-		branchExist, _ := git.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, ctx.Repo.Repository.DefaultBranch)
+		branchExist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, ctx.Repo.Repository.DefaultBranch)
 		if !branchExist {
 			ctx.Data["NotFoundPrompt"] = ctx.Tr("repo.branch.default_branch_not_exist", ctx.Repo.Repository.DefaultBranch)
 			ctx.NotFound(nil)
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/compare.go b/routers/web/repo/compare.go
index 2e56f6934a05e..bc6276a33f42c 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/compare.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/compare.go
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ func ParseCompareInfo(ctx *context.Context) *common.CompareInfo {
 
 	// Check if base branch is valid.
 	baseIsCommit := ctx.Repo.GitRepo.IsCommitExist(ci.BaseBranch)
-	baseIsBranch := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, ci.BaseBranch)
+	baseIsBranch, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, ci.BaseBranch)
 	baseIsTag := gitrepo.IsTagExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, ci.BaseBranch)
 
 	if !baseIsCommit && !baseIsBranch && !baseIsTag {
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ func ParseCompareInfo(ctx *context.Context) *common.CompareInfo {
 
 	// Check if head branch is valid.
 	headIsCommit := ci.HeadGitRepo.IsCommitExist(ci.HeadBranch)
-	headIsBranch := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ci.HeadRepo, ci.HeadBranch)
+	headIsBranch, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ci.HeadRepo.ID, ci.HeadBranch)
 	headIsTag := gitrepo.IsTagExist(ctx, ci.HeadRepo, ci.HeadBranch)
 	if !headIsCommit && !headIsBranch && !headIsTag {
 		// Check if headBranch is short sha commit hash
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go b/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go
index cb5b2d801952d..662b241ea3ddc 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/issue_comment.go
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"strconv"
 
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	issues_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/issues"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/renderhelper"
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup/markdown"
 	repo_module "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/repository"
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func NewComment(ctx *context.Context) {
 						ctx.ServerError("Unable to load head repo", err)
 						return
 					}
-					if ok := gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo, pull.BaseBranch); !ok {
+					if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo.ID, pull.BaseBranch); !exist {
 						// todo localize
 						ctx.JSONError("The origin branch is delete, cannot reopen.")
 						return
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go b/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go
index d9f6c33e3fbc5..49bb837ab9bb6 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/issue_view.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/emoji"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup/markdown"
@@ -563,8 +562,10 @@ func preparePullViewDeleteBranch(ctx *context.Context, issue *issues_model.Issue
 	pull := issue.PullRequest
 	isPullBranchDeletable := canDelete &&
 		pull.HeadRepo != nil &&
-		gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo, pull.HeadBranch) &&
 		(!pull.HasMerged || ctx.Data["HeadBranchCommitID"] == ctx.Data["PullHeadCommitID"])
+	if isPullBranchDeletable {
+		isPullBranchDeletable, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo.ID, pull.HeadBranch)
+	}
 
 	if isPullBranchDeletable && pull.HasMerged {
 		exist, err := issues_model.HasUnmergedPullRequestsByHeadInfo(ctx, pull.HeadRepoID, pull.HeadBranch)
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/pull.go b/routers/web/repo/pull.go
index c9ea836899ae8..d50d73872f283 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/pull.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/pull.go
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ func prepareViewPullInfo(ctx *context.Context, issue *issues_model.Issue) *pull_
 		defer baseGitRepo.Close()
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.BaseRepo, pull.BaseBranch) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.BaseRepo.ID, pull.BaseBranch); !exist {
 		ctx.Data["BaseBranchNotExist"] = true
 		ctx.Data["IsPullRequestBroken"] = true
 		ctx.Data["BaseTarget"] = pull.BaseBranch
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ func prepareViewPullInfo(ctx *context.Context, issue *issues_model.Issue) *pull_
 		defer closer.Close()
 
 		if pull.Flow == issues_model.PullRequestFlowGithub {
-			headBranchExist = gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo, pull.HeadBranch)
+			headBranchExist, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pull.HeadRepo.ID, pull.HeadBranch)
 		} else {
 			headBranchExist = gitrepo.IsReferenceExist(ctx, pull.BaseRepo, pull.GetGitHeadRefName())
 		}
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/release.go b/routers/web/repo/release.go
index 36ea20c23e6f7..4ed9e0bdbde44 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/release.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/release.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/unit"
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/markup/markdown"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/optional"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
@@ -424,7 +423,7 @@ func NewReleasePost(ctx *context.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, form.Target) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, form.Target); !exist {
 		ctx.RenderWithErr(ctx.Tr("form.target_branch_not_exist"), tplReleaseNew, &form)
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/services/agit/agit.go b/services/agit/agit.go
index 4ed867b358323..0a461f24882d6 100644
--- a/services/agit/agit.go
+++ b/services/agit/agit.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func ProcReceive(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, gitRepo *git.
 
 		baseBranchName := opts.RefFullNames[i].ForBranchName()
 		currentTopicBranch := ""
-		if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, baseBranchName) {
+		if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, baseBranchName); !exist {
 			// try match refs/for/<target-branch>/<topic-branch>
 			for p, v := range baseBranchName {
 				if v == '/' && gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, baseBranchName[:p]) && p != len(baseBranchName)-1 {
diff --git a/services/automerge/automerge.go b/services/automerge/automerge.go
index a60883b4cc501..cf3207ccbc424 100644
--- a/services/automerge/automerge.go
+++ b/services/automerge/automerge.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/db"
+	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	issues_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/issues"
 	access_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/perm/access"
 	pull_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/pull"
@@ -219,7 +220,10 @@ func handlePullRequestAutoMerge(pullID int64, sha string) {
 
 	switch pr.Flow {
 	case issues_model.PullRequestFlowGithub:
-		headBranchExist := pr.HeadRepo != nil && gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo, pr.HeadBranch)
+		headBranchExist := pr.HeadRepo != nil
+		if headBranchExist {
+			headBranchExist, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo.ID, pr.HeadBranch)
+		}
 		if !headBranchExist {
 			log.Warn("Head branch of auto merge %-v does not exist [HeadRepoID: %d, Branch: %s]", pr, pr.HeadRepoID, pr.HeadBranch)
 			return
diff --git a/services/pull/protected_branch.go b/services/pull/protected_branch.go
index 181bd32f44357..68ae7bc2ed2ca 100644
--- a/services/pull/protected_branch.go
+++ b/services/pull/protected_branch.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 
 	git_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/git"
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 )
 
 func CreateOrUpdateProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository,
@@ -22,8 +21,7 @@ func CreateOrUpdateProtectedBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Reposit
 	isPlainRule := !git_model.IsRuleNameSpecial(protectBranch.RuleName)
 	var isBranchExist bool
 	if isPlainRule {
-		// TODO: read the database directly to check if the branch exists
-		isBranchExist = gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, protectBranch.RuleName)
+		isBranchExist, _ = git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, protectBranch.RuleName)
 	}
 
 	if isBranchExist {
diff --git a/services/pull/temp_repo.go b/services/pull/temp_repo.go
index 8750b4288a429..4af1228a87844 100644
--- a/services/pull/temp_repo.go
+++ b/services/pull/temp_repo.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git/gitcmd"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/gitrepo"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	repo_module "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/repository"
 )
@@ -180,7 +179,7 @@ func createTemporaryRepoForPR(ctx context.Context, pr *issues_model.PullRequest)
 	if err := gitcmd.NewCommand("fetch").AddArguments(fetchArgs...).AddDynamicArguments(remoteRepoName, headBranch+":"+trackingBranch).
 		Run(ctx, prCtx.RunOpts()); err != nil {
 		cancel()
-		if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo, pr.HeadBranch) {
+		if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, pr.HeadRepo.ID, pr.HeadBranch); !exist {
 			return nil, nil, git_model.ErrBranchNotExist{
 				BranchName: pr.HeadBranch,
 			}
diff --git a/services/repository/branch.go b/services/repository/branch.go
index df7202227aa70..2bcec7398ca1e 100644
--- a/services/repository/branch.go
+++ b/services/repository/branch.go
@@ -410,11 +410,11 @@ func RenameBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, doer *user_m
 		return "target_exist", nil
 	}
 
-	if gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, to) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, to); exist {
 		return "target_exist", nil
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, from) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, from); !exist {
 		return "from_not_exist", nil
 	}
 
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ func SetRepoDefaultBranch(ctx context.Context, repo *repo_model.Repository, newB
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if !gitrepo.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo, newBranchName) {
+	if exist, _ := git_model.IsBranchExist(ctx, repo.ID, newBranchName); !exist {
 		return git_model.ErrBranchNotExist{
 			BranchName: newBranchName,
 		}