diff --git a/perceval/backends/core/git.py b/perceval/backends/core/git.py
index 3b962353a..a2b4a9180 100644
--- a/perceval/backends/core/git.py
+++ b/perceval/backends/core/git.py
@@ -1304,6 +1304,8 @@ def _update_references(self, refs):
             self._update_ref(old_ref, delete=True)
 
         # Update new references
+        current_refs = {ref.refname: ref.hash for ref in self._discover_refs()}
+
         for new_ref in refs:
             refname = new_ref.refname
 
@@ -1315,6 +1317,10 @@ def _update_references(self, refs):
                 logger.debug("Reference %s not needed; ignored for updating in sync process",
                              refname)
                 continue
+            elif refname in current_refs and new_ref.hash == current_refs[refname]:
+                logger.debug("Reference %s already up to date in sync process",
+                             refname)
+                continue
             else:
                 self._update_ref(new_ref)
 
diff --git a/releases/unreleased/git-sync-perfomance-improved.yml b/releases/unreleased/git-sync-perfomance-improved.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abc206a81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releases/unreleased/git-sync-perfomance-improved.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+title: Git sync improved for `--latest-items` flag
+category: performance
+author: Santiago Dueñas <sduenas@bitergia.com>
+issue: null
+notes: >
+  The speed updating a git repository when `--lates-items`
+  is set was very poor. The main problem was when the
+  references were updated to the new hashes. All the
+  active refs on the repository were modified, even when
+  they were up-to-date. Now, only references updated
+  on the remote repository are modified on the local one.
+  Repositories are synched 2 times faster than before.
+