diff --git a/remote/gogs/fixtures/handler.go b/remote/gogs/fixtures/handler.go
index 26300644c..5904a1dd3 100644
--- a/remote/gogs/fixtures/handler.go
+++ b/remote/gogs/fixtures/handler.go
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ func getRepo(c *gin.Context) {
 }
 
 func getRepoFile(c *gin.Context) {
-	switch c.Param("file") {
-	case "file_not_found":
+	if c.Param("file") == "file_not_found" {
 		c.String(404, "")
-	default:
+	}
+	if c.Param("commit") == "v1.0.0" || c.Param("commit") == "9ecad50" {
 		c.String(200, repoFilePayload)
 	}
+	c.String(404, "")
 }
 
 func createRepoHook(c *gin.Context) {
diff --git a/remote/gogs/gogs.go b/remote/gogs/gogs.go
index 666101036..98cc6f231 100644
--- a/remote/gogs/gogs.go
+++ b/remote/gogs/gogs.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/drone/drone/model"
 	"github.com/drone/drone/remote"
@@ -176,7 +177,14 @@ func (c *client) File(u *model.User, r *model.Repo, b *model.Build, f string) ([
 	client := c.newClientToken(u.Token)
 	buildRef := b.Commit
 	if buildRef == "" {
-		buildRef = b.Ref
+		// Remove refs/tags or refs/heads, Gogs needs a short ref
+		buildRef = strings.TrimPrefix(
+			strings.TrimPrefix(
+				b.Ref,
+				"refs/heads/",
+			),
+			"refs/tags/",
+		)
 	}
 	cfg, err := client.GetFile(r.Owner, r.Name, buildRef, f)
 	return cfg, err
diff --git a/remote/gogs/gogs_test.go b/remote/gogs/gogs_test.go
index 1d88d1302..bfd8728c9 100644
--- a/remote/gogs/gogs_test.go
+++ b/remote/gogs/gogs_test.go
@@ -128,6 +128,12 @@ func Test_gogs(t *testing.T) {
 			g.Assert(string(raw)).Equal("{ platform: linux/amd64 }")
 		})
 
+		g.It("Should return a repository file from a ref", func() {
+			raw, err := c.File(fakeUser, fakeRepo, fakeBuildWithRef, ".drone.yml")
+			g.Assert(err == nil).IsTrue()
+			g.Assert(string(raw)).Equal("{ platform: linux/amd64 }")
+		})
+
 		g.Describe("Given an authentication request", func() {
 			g.It("Should redirect to login form")
 			g.It("Should create an access token")
@@ -178,4 +184,8 @@ var (
 	fakeBuild = &model.Build{
 		Commit: "9ecad50",
 	}
+
+	fakeBuildWithRef = &model.Build{
+		Ref: "refs/tags/v1.0.0",
+	}
 )