diff --git a/Documentation/git-remote-helpers.txt b/Documentation/git-remote-helpers.txt
index 1133f047bf..8beb42dbb9 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-remote-helpers.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-remote-helpers.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ Commands are given by the caller on the helper's standard input, one per line.
 	value of the ref. A space-separated list of attributes follows
 	the name; unrecognized attributes are ignored. After the
 	complete list, outputs a blank line.
++
+If 'push' is supported this may be called as 'list for-push'
+to obtain the current refs prior to sending one or more 'push'
+commands to the helper.
 
 'option' <name> <value>::
 	Set the transport helper option <name> to <value>.  Outputs a
@@ -59,6 +63,22 @@ suitably updated.
 +
 Supported if the helper has the "fetch" capability.
 
+'push' +<src>:<dst>::
+	Pushes the given <src> commit or branch locally to the
+	remote branch described by <dst>.  A batch sequence of
+	one or more push commands is terminated with a blank line.
++
+Zero or more protocol options may be entered after the last 'push'
+command, before the batch's terminating blank line.
++
+When the push is complete, outputs one or more 'ok <dst>' or
+'error <dst> <why>?' lines to indicate success or failure of
+each pushed ref.  The status report output is terminated by
+a blank line.  The option field <why> may be quoted in a C
+style string if it contains an LF.
++
+Supported if the helper has the "push" capability.
+
 If a fatal error occurs, the program writes the error message to
 stderr and exits. The caller should expect that a suitable error
 message has been printed if the child closes the connection without
@@ -76,10 +96,16 @@ CAPABILITIES
 'option'::
 	This helper supports the option command.
 
+'push'::
+	This helper supports the 'push' command.
+
 REF LIST ATTRIBUTES
 -------------------
 
-None are defined yet, but the caller must accept any which are supplied.
+'for-push'::
+	The caller wants to use the ref list to prepare push
+	commands.  A helper might chose to acquire the ref list by
+	opening a different type of connection to the destination.
 
 OPTIONS
 -------
@@ -106,6 +132,11 @@ OPTIONS
 	ask for the tag specifically.  Some helpers may be able to
 	use this option to avoid a second network connection.
 
+'option dry-run' \{'true'|'false'\}:
+	If true, pretend the operation completed successfully,
+	but don't actually change any repository data.	For most
+	helpers this only applies to the 'push', if supported.
+
 Documentation
 -------------
 Documentation by Daniel Barkalow.
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index cc5d4b8c32..f10803a389 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ static int push_verbosely;
 static int push_all = MATCH_REFS_NONE;
 static int force_all;
 static int dry_run;
+static int helper_status;
 
 static struct object_list *objects;
 
@@ -1813,6 +1814,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				dry_run = 1;
 				continue;
 			}
+			if (!strcmp(arg, "--helper-status")) {
+				helper_status = 1;
+				continue;
+			}
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--verbose")) {
 				push_verbosely = 1;
 				http_is_verbose = 1;
@@ -1911,9 +1916,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	/* Remove a remote branch if -d or -D was specified */
 	if (delete_branch) {
-		if (delete_remote_branch(refspec[0], force_delete) == -1)
+		if (delete_remote_branch(refspec[0], force_delete) == -1) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Unable to delete remote branch %s\n",
 				refspec[0]);
+			if (helper_status)
+				printf("error %s cannot remove\n", refspec[0]);
+		}
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
@@ -1925,6 +1933,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 	if (!remote_refs) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "No refs in common and none specified; doing nothing.\n");
+		if (helper_status)
+			printf("error null no match\n");
 		rc = 0;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
@@ -1942,8 +1952,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		if (is_null_sha1(ref->peer_ref->new_sha1)) {
 			if (delete_remote_branch(ref->name, 1) == -1) {
 				error("Could not remove %s", ref->name);
+				if (helper_status)
+					printf("error %s cannot remove\n", ref->name);
 				rc = -4;
 			}
+			else if (helper_status)
+				printf("ok %s\n", ref->name);
 			new_refs++;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1951,6 +1965,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		if (!hashcmp(ref->old_sha1, ref->peer_ref->new_sha1)) {
 			if (push_verbosely || 1)
 				fprintf(stderr, "'%s': up-to-date\n", ref->name);
+			if (helper_status)
+				printf("ok %s up to date\n", ref->name);
 			continue;
 		}
 
@@ -1974,6 +1990,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				      "need to pull first?",
 				      ref->name,
 				      ref->peer_ref->name);
+				if (helper_status)
+					printf("error %s non-fast forward\n", ref->name);
 				rc = -2;
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -1987,14 +2005,19 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		if (strcmp(ref->name, ref->peer_ref->name))
 			fprintf(stderr, " using '%s'", ref->peer_ref->name);
 		fprintf(stderr, "\n  from %s\n  to   %s\n", old_hex, new_hex);
-		if (dry_run)
+		if (dry_run) {
+			if (helper_status)
+				printf("ok %s\n", ref->name);
 			continue;
+		}
 
 		/* Lock remote branch ref */
 		ref_lock = lock_remote(ref->name, LOCK_TIME);
 		if (ref_lock == NULL) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Unable to lock remote branch %s\n",
 				ref->name);
+			if (helper_status)
+				printf("error %s lock error\n", ref->name);
 			rc = 1;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -2045,6 +2068,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 		if (!rc)
 			fprintf(stderr, "    done\n");
+		if (helper_status)
+			printf("%s %s\n", !rc ? "ok" : "error", ref->name);
 		unlock_remote(ref_lock);
 		check_locks();
 	}
diff --git a/remote-curl.c b/remote-curl.c
index 0951f11615..5c9dd97d1d 100644
--- a/remote-curl.c
+++ b/remote-curl.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "walker.h"
 #include "http.h"
 #include "exec_cmd.h"
+#include "run-command.h"
 
 static struct remote *remote;
 static const char *url;
@@ -13,7 +14,8 @@ struct options {
 	int verbosity;
 	unsigned long depth;
 	unsigned progress : 1,
-		followtags : 1;
+		followtags : 1,
+		dry_run : 1;
 };
 static struct options options;
 
@@ -59,6 +61,15 @@ static int set_option(const char *name, const char *value)
 			return -1;
 		return 1 /* TODO implement later */;
 	}
+	else if (!strcmp(name, "dry-run")) {
+		if (!strcmp(value, "true"))
+			options.dry_run = 1;
+		else if (!strcmp(value, "false"))
+			options.dry_run = 0;
+		else
+			return -1;
+		return 0;
+	}
 	else {
 		return 1 /* unsupported */;
 	}
@@ -136,6 +147,20 @@ static struct ref *get_refs(void)
 	return refs;
 }
 
+static void output_refs(struct ref *refs)
+{
+	struct ref *posn;
+	for (posn = refs; posn; posn = posn->next) {
+		if (posn->symref)
+			printf("@%s %s\n", posn->symref, posn->name);
+		else
+			printf("%s %s\n", sha1_to_hex(posn->old_sha1), posn->name);
+	}
+	printf("\n");
+	fflush(stdout);
+	free_refs(refs);
+}
+
 static int fetch_dumb(int nr_heads, struct ref **to_fetch)
 {
 	char **targets = xmalloc(nr_heads * sizeof(char*));
@@ -211,6 +236,58 @@ static void parse_fetch(struct strbuf *buf)
 	strbuf_reset(buf);
 }
 
+static int push_dav(int nr_spec, char **specs)
+{
+	const char **argv = xmalloc((10 + nr_spec) * sizeof(char*));
+	int argc = 0, i;
+
+	argv[argc++] = "http-push";
+	argv[argc++] = "--helper-status";
+	if (options.dry_run)
+		argv[argc++] = "--dry-run";
+	if (options.verbosity > 1)
+		argv[argc++] = "--verbose";
+	argv[argc++] = url;
+	for (i = 0; i < nr_spec; i++)
+		argv[argc++] = specs[i];
+	argv[argc++] = NULL;
+
+	if (run_command_v_opt(argv, RUN_GIT_CMD))
+		die("git-%s failed", argv[0]);
+	free(argv);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void parse_push(struct strbuf *buf)
+{
+	char **specs = NULL;
+	int alloc_spec = 0, nr_spec = 0, i;
+
+	do {
+		if (!prefixcmp(buf->buf, "push ")) {
+			ALLOC_GROW(specs, nr_spec + 1, alloc_spec);
+			specs[nr_spec++] = xstrdup(buf->buf + 5);
+		}
+		else
+			die("http transport does not support %s", buf->buf);
+
+		strbuf_reset(buf);
+		if (strbuf_getline(buf, stdin, '\n') == EOF)
+			return;
+		if (!*buf->buf)
+			break;
+	} while (1);
+
+	if (push_dav(nr_spec, specs))
+		exit(128); /* error already reported */
+	for (i = 0; i < nr_spec; i++)
+		free(specs[i]);
+	free(specs);
+
+	printf("\n");
+	fflush(stdout);
+}
+
 int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -239,17 +316,12 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 		if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "fetch ")) {
 			parse_fetch(&buf);
 
-		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "list")) {
-			struct ref *refs = get_refs();
-			struct ref *posn;
-			for (posn = refs; posn; posn = posn->next) {
-				if (posn->symref)
-					printf("@%s %s\n", posn->symref, posn->name);
-				else
-					printf("%s %s\n", sha1_to_hex(posn->old_sha1), posn->name);
-			}
-			printf("\n");
-			fflush(stdout);
+		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "list") || !prefixcmp(buf.buf, "list ")) {
+			output_refs(get_refs());
+
+		} else if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "push ")) {
+			parse_push(&buf);
+
 		} else if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "option ")) {
 			char *name = buf.buf + strlen("option ");
 			char *value = strchr(name, ' ');
@@ -272,6 +344,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "capabilities")) {
 			printf("fetch\n");
 			printf("option\n");
+			printf("push\n");
 			printf("\n");
 			fflush(stdout);
 		} else {
diff --git a/t/t5540-http-push.sh b/t/t5540-http-push.sh
index f4a2cf6c17..09edd2387b 100755
--- a/t/t5540-http-push.sh
+++ b/t/t5540-http-push.sh
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup remote repository' '
 	cd test_repo.git &&
 	git --bare update-server-info &&
 	mv hooks/post-update.sample hooks/post-update &&
+	ORIG_HEAD=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 	cd - &&
 	mv test_repo.git "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"
 '
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ test_expect_success 'clone remote repository' '
 	git clone $HTTPD_URL/test_repo.git test_repo_clone
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'push to remote repository with packed refs' '
+test_expect_success 'push to remote repository with packed refs' '
 	cd "$ROOT_PATH"/test_repo_clone &&
 	: >path2 &&
 	git add path2 &&
@@ -57,11 +58,15 @@ test_expect_failure 'push to remote repository with packed refs' '
 	 test $HEAD = $(git rev-parse --verify HEAD))
 '
 
-test_expect_success ' push to remote repository with unpacked refs' '
+test_expect_failure 'push already up-to-date' '
+	git push
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'push to remote repository with unpacked refs' '
 	(cd "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/test_repo.git &&
 	 rm packed-refs &&
-	 git update-ref refs/heads/master \
-		0c973ae9bd51902a28466f3850b543fa66a6aaf4) &&
+	 git update-ref refs/heads/master $ORIG_HEAD &&
+	 git --bare update-server-info) &&
 	git push &&
 	(cd "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/test_repo.git &&
 	 test $HEAD = $(git rev-parse --verify HEAD))
@@ -113,7 +118,6 @@ test_expect_success 'create and delete remote branch' '
 	git push origin dev &&
 	git fetch &&
 	git push origin :dev &&
-	git branch -d -r origin/dev &&
 	git fetch &&
 	test_must_fail git show-ref --verify refs/remotes/origin/dev
 '
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 577abc638e..16c6641f03 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "transport.h"
-
+#include "quote.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "diff.h"
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ struct helper_data
 	struct child_process *helper;
 	FILE *out;
 	unsigned fetch : 1,
-		option : 1;
+		option : 1,
+		push : 1;
 };
 
 static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
@@ -52,6 +53,8 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 			data->fetch = 1;
 		if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "option"))
 			data->option = 1;
+		if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "push"))
+			data->push = 1;
 	}
 	return data->helper;
 }
@@ -214,6 +217,130 @@ static int fetch(struct transport *transport,
 	return -1;
 }
 
+static int push_refs(struct transport *transport,
+		struct ref *remote_refs, int flags)
+{
+	int force_all = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_FORCE;
+	int mirror = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR;
+	struct helper_data *data = transport->data;
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct child_process *helper;
+	struct ref *ref;
+
+	if (!remote_refs)
+		return 0;
+
+	helper = get_helper(transport);
+	if (!data->push)
+		return 1;
+
+	for (ref = remote_refs; ref; ref = ref->next) {
+		if (ref->peer_ref)
+			hashcpy(ref->new_sha1, ref->peer_ref->new_sha1);
+		else if (!mirror)
+			continue;
+
+		ref->deletion = is_null_sha1(ref->new_sha1);
+		if (!ref->deletion &&
+			!hashcmp(ref->old_sha1, ref->new_sha1)) {
+			ref->status = REF_STATUS_UPTODATE;
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (force_all)
+			ref->force = 1;
+
+		strbuf_addstr(&buf, "push ");
+		if (!ref->deletion) {
+			if (ref->force)
+				strbuf_addch(&buf, '+');
+			if (ref->peer_ref)
+				strbuf_addstr(&buf, ref->peer_ref->name);
+			else
+				strbuf_addstr(&buf, sha1_to_hex(ref->new_sha1));
+		}
+		strbuf_addch(&buf, ':');
+		strbuf_addstr(&buf, ref->name);
+		strbuf_addch(&buf, '\n');
+	}
+
+	transport->verbose = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_VERBOSE ? 1 : 0;
+	standard_options(transport);
+
+	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_DRY_RUN) {
+		if (set_helper_option(transport, "dry-run", "true") != 0)
+			die("helper %s does not support dry-run", data->name);
+	}
+
+	strbuf_addch(&buf, '\n');
+	if (write_in_full(helper->in, buf.buf, buf.len) != buf.len)
+		exit(128);
+
+	ref = remote_refs;
+	while (1) {
+		char *refname, *msg;
+		int status;
+
+		strbuf_reset(&buf);
+		if (strbuf_getline(&buf, data->out, '\n') == EOF)
+			exit(128); /* child died, message supplied already */
+		if (!buf.len)
+			break;
+
+		if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "ok ")) {
+			status = REF_STATUS_OK;
+			refname = buf.buf + 3;
+		} else if (!prefixcmp(buf.buf, "error ")) {
+			status = REF_STATUS_REMOTE_REJECT;
+			refname = buf.buf + 6;
+		} else
+			die("expected ok/error, helper said '%s'\n", buf.buf);
+
+		msg = strchr(refname, ' ');
+		if (msg) {
+			struct strbuf msg_buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+			const char *end;
+
+			*msg++ = '\0';
+			if (!unquote_c_style(&msg_buf, msg, &end))
+				msg = strbuf_detach(&msg_buf, NULL);
+			else
+				msg = xstrdup(msg);
+			strbuf_release(&msg_buf);
+
+			if (!strcmp(msg, "no match")) {
+				status = REF_STATUS_NONE;
+				free(msg);
+				msg = NULL;
+			}
+			else if (!strcmp(msg, "up to date")) {
+				status = REF_STATUS_UPTODATE;
+				free(msg);
+				msg = NULL;
+			}
+			else if (!strcmp(msg, "non-fast forward")) {
+				status = REF_STATUS_REJECT_NONFASTFORWARD;
+				free(msg);
+				msg = NULL;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (ref)
+			ref = find_ref_by_name(ref, refname);
+		if (!ref)
+			ref = find_ref_by_name(remote_refs, refname);
+		if (!ref) {
+			warning("helper reported unexpected status of %s", refname);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		ref->status = status;
+		ref->remote_status = msg;
+	}
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static struct ref *get_refs_list(struct transport *transport, int for_push)
 {
 	struct helper_data *data = transport->data;
@@ -225,7 +352,10 @@ static struct ref *get_refs_list(struct transport *transport, int for_push)
 
 	helper = get_helper(transport);
 
-	write_str_in_full(helper->in, "list\n");
+	if (data->push && for_push)
+		write_str_in_full(helper->in, "list for-push\n");
+	else
+		write_str_in_full(helper->in, "list\n");
 
 	while (1) {
 		char *eov, *eon;
@@ -266,6 +396,7 @@ int transport_helper_init(struct transport *transport, const char *name)
 	transport->set_option = set_helper_option;
 	transport->get_refs_list = get_refs_list;
 	transport->fetch = fetch;
+	transport->push_refs = push_refs;
 	transport->disconnect = disconnect_helper;
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 644a30a0b2..6d9652db94 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -349,35 +349,6 @@ static int rsync_transport_push(struct transport *transport,
 	return result;
 }
 
-#ifndef NO_CURL
-static int curl_transport_push(struct transport *transport, int refspec_nr, const char **refspec, int flags)
-{
-	const char **argv;
-	int argc;
-
-	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR)
-		return error("http transport does not support mirror mode");
-
-	argv = xmalloc((refspec_nr + 12) * sizeof(char *));
-	argv[0] = "http-push";
-	argc = 1;
-	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL)
-		argv[argc++] = "--all";
-	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_FORCE)
-		argv[argc++] = "--force";
-	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_DRY_RUN)
-		argv[argc++] = "--dry-run";
-	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_VERBOSE)
-		argv[argc++] = "--verbose";
-	argv[argc++] = transport->url;
-	while (refspec_nr--)
-		argv[argc++] = *refspec++;
-	argv[argc] = NULL;
-	return !!run_command_v_opt(argv, RUN_GIT_CMD);
-}
-
-#endif
-
 struct bundle_transport_data {
 	int fd;
 	struct bundle_header header;
@@ -826,8 +797,6 @@ struct transport *transport_get(struct remote *remote, const char *url)
 		transport_helper_init(ret, "curl");
 #ifdef NO_CURL
 		error("git was compiled without libcurl support.");
-#else
-		ret->push = curl_transport_push;
 #endif
 
 	} else if (is_local(url) && is_file(url)) {