diff --git a/.git_archival.txt b/.git_archival.txt
index 8fb235d7..7c510094 100644
--- a/.git_archival.txt
+++ b/.git_archival.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 node: $Format:%H$
 node-date: $Format:%cI$
 describe-name: $Format:%(describe:tags=true,match=*[0-9]*)$
-ref-names: $Format:%D$
diff --git a/docs/pages/guides/packaging_classic.md b/docs/pages/guides/packaging_classic.md
index 097b1ed3..dfd50230 100644
--- a/docs/pages/guides/packaging_classic.md
+++ b/docs/pages/guides/packaging_classic.md
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ You should also add these two files:
 node: $Format:%H$
 node-date: $Format:%cI$
 describe-name: $Format:%(describe:tags=true,match=*[0-9]*)$
-ref-names: $Format:%D$
 ```
 
 And `.gitattributes` (or add this line if you are already using this file):
diff --git a/docs/pages/guides/packaging_simple.md b/docs/pages/guides/packaging_simple.md
index 6febc6f0..65296f5a 100644
--- a/docs/pages/guides/packaging_simple.md
+++ b/docs/pages/guides/packaging_simple.md
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@ You should also add these two files:
 node: $Format:%H$
 node-date: $Format:%cI$
 describe-name: $Format:%(describe:tags=true,match=*[0-9]*)$
-ref-names: $Format:%D$
 ```
 
 And `.gitattributes` (or add this line if you are already using this file):
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/.git_archival.txt b/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/.git_archival.txt
index 8fb235d7..7c510094 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/.git_archival.txt
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_name}}/.git_archival.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 node: $Format:%H$
 node-date: $Format:%cI$
 describe-name: $Format:%(describe:tags=true,match=*[0-9]*)$
-ref-names: $Format:%D$