diff --git a/src/commands/symbolic-ref b/src/commands/symbolic-ref
index b65c79290..86baff44f 100755
--- a/src/commands/symbolic-ref
+++ b/src/commands/symbolic-ref
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ usage() { perl -lne 'print substr($_, 2) if /^# Usage/../^$/' < $0; exit 1; }
 [ -z "$1" ] && usage
 [ "$1" = "-h" ] && usage
 [ -z "$GL_USER" ] && die GL_USER not set
+[ "$GL_USER" != "gitlab" ] && die You are not authorised
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 repo=$1; shift
diff --git a/src/lib/Gitolite/Rc.pm b/src/lib/Gitolite/Rc.pm
index de7d53f12..9a08c6bbf 100644
--- a/src/lib/Gitolite/Rc.pm
+++ b/src/lib/Gitolite/Rc.pm
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@ __DATA__
             # 'mirror'          =>  1,
             'perms'             =>  1,
             # 'sskm'            =>  1,
+            'symbolic-ref'      =>  1,
             'writable'          =>  1,
             # 'D'               =>  1,
         },