diff --git a/lua/git/object.lua b/lua/git/object.lua
index 1308849..b85b006 100644
--- a/lua/git/object.lua
+++ b/lua/git/object.lua
@@ -276,7 +276,11 @@ local function refresh(buf, r)
     if not rev_sha or rev_sha == state.sha then
         return
     end
-    populate(buf, r, rev, state, rev_sha)
+    if state.sha == nil then
+        M.read_uri(buf)
+    else
+        populate(buf, r, rev, state, rev_sha)
+    end
 end
 
 ---@param r ow.Git.Repo