diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index fe62068463..71170f36a9 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -2844,7 +2844,7 @@ static int check_and_collect_until(const char *refname UNUSED,
  */
 static int is_reachable_in_reflog(const char *local, const struct ref *remote)
 {
-	timestamp_t date;
+	timestamp_t date = 0;
 	struct commit *commit;
 	struct commit **chunk;
 	struct check_and_collect_until_cb_data cb;
diff --git a/t/t5533-push-cas.sh b/t/t5533-push-cas.sh
index 2e14aecaa2..e6e1360a42 100755
--- a/t/t5533-push-cas.sh
+++ b/t/t5533-push-cas.sh
@@ -396,4 +396,20 @@ test_expect_success '"--force-if-includes" should allow deletes' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success '"--force-if-includes" should allow forced update when remote-tracking ref has no reflog' '
+	setup_src_dup_dst &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -fr dst src dup" &&
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git switch branch &&
+		git pull --rebase origin branch &&
+		# the bug needs a remote-tracking ref with no reflog, and
+		# the fetch above wrote one
+		git reflog expire --expire=all refs/remotes/origin/branch &&
+		git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
+		test_commit I &&
+		git push --force-if-includes --force-with-lease="branch"
+	)
+'
+
 test_done