diff --git a/bin/core/imag-ref/src/main.rs b/bin/core/imag-ref/src/main.rs
index 1420f5f8..51fdcaea 100644
--- a/bin/core/imag-ref/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/core/imag-ref/src/main.rs
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ fn remove(rt: &Runtime) {
     let yes  = cmd.is_present("yes");
 
     if yes || ask_bool(&format!("Delete Ref with hash '{}'", hash)[..], None) {
+        match rt.store().get_by_partitial_hash(
         match rt.store().delete_by_hash(hash) {
             Err(e) => trace_error(&e),
             Ok(_) => info!("Ok"),
diff --git a/lib/entry/libimagentryref/src/refstore.rs b/lib/entry/libimagentryref/src/refstore.rs
index b1ac9381..102d3d94 100644
--- a/lib/entry/libimagentryref/src/refstore.rs
+++ b/lib/entry/libimagentryref/src/refstore.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use std::fs::File;
 
 use libimagstore::store::FileLockEntry;
 use libimagstore::storeid::IntoStoreId;
+use libimagstore::storeid::StoreId;
 use libimagstore::storeid::StoreIdIterator;
 use libimagstore::store::Store;
 
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ pub trait RefStore {
     /// Returns None if the hash cannot be found.
     fn get_by_hash<'a>(&'a self, hash: String) -> Result<Option<FileLockEntry<'a>>>;
 
+    /// Find a store id by partial ref (also see documentation for
+    /// `RefStore::get_by_partitial_hash()`.
+    fn find_storeid_by_partial_hash(&self, hash: &String) -> Result<Option<StoreId>>;
+
     /// Get a Ref object from the store by (eventually partial) hash.
     ///
     /// If the hash is complete, `RefStore::get_by_hash()` should be used as it is cheaper.
@@ -123,23 +128,32 @@ impl RefStore for Store {
             .map_err(From::from)
     }
 
-    /// Get a Ref object from the store by (eventually partial) hash.
-    ///
-    /// If the hash is complete, `RefStore::get_by_hash()` should be used as it is cheaper.
-    /// If the hash comes from user input and thus might be abbreviated, this function can be used.
-    fn get_by_partitial_hash<'a>(&'a self, hash: &String) -> Result<Option<FileLockEntry<'a>>> {
+    fn find_storeid_by_partial_hash(&self, hash: &String) -> Result<Option<StoreId>> {
+        debug!("Trying to find '{}' in store...", hash);
         for id in self.retrieve_for_module("ref")? {
             let components_have_hash = id
                 .components()
                 .any(|c| c.as_os_str().to_str().map(|s| s.contains(hash)).unwrap_or(false));
 
             if components_have_hash {
-                return self.get(id).map_err(From::from);
+                debug!("Found hash '{}' in {:?}", hash, id);
+                return Ok(Some(id))
             }
         }
         Ok(None)
     }
 
+    /// Get a Ref object from the store by (eventually partial) hash.
+    ///
+    /// If the hash is complete, `RefStore::get_by_hash()` should be used as it is cheaper.
+    /// If the hash comes from user input and thus might be abbreviated, this function can be used.
+    fn get_by_partitial_hash<'a>(&'a self, hash: &String) -> Result<Option<FileLockEntry<'a>>> {
+        match self.find_storeid_by_partial_hash(hash)? {
+            Some(id) => self.get(id).map_err(From::from),
+            None     => Ok(None),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Delete a ref by hash
     ///
     /// If the returned Result contains an error, the ref might not be deleted.